Editor's Pick: SC's intervention on sedition

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed that all pending trials, appeals and proceedings under Section 124A (sedition) would be kept in abeyance, enabling time to the Union of India to reconsider the British-era law. The court would now hear sedition cases, that is, the pleas challenging the validity of the provision, in the third week of July. The order came after the Union government acknowledged that the law was not in tune with contemporary times. “It is clear that the Union of India agrees with the prima facie opinion expressed by this court that the rigours of Section 124A of the IPC is not in tune with the current social milieu and was intended for a time when this country was under the colonial regime. In light of the same, the Union of India may reconsider the provision of law,” the court observed. However, the bench led by Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana did not give a deadline to the Union Government, aware that it may require legislative process. It stated that there was a need to balance security interests and integrity of the state on the one hand, and civil liberties of the citizens on the other. As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCB), 356 cases of sedition under Section 124A (sedition) have been registered with only 6 facing conviction – implying a conviction rate of about 1.7%. It was argued in court that nearly 13,000 people were already in jail under the sedition provision. The apex court ordered that those under trial under Section 124A could now use the order to seek bail. Further, those accused in fresh cases were free to approach courts (District or High Courts), which would consider their pleas as per the Supreme Court order and the “clear” stand of the Union that the provision was abused and needed “re-examination”. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor‘s Pick and more. Click here The Hindu’s Editorials Frozen sedition Engage, not dismiss: On India’s response to WHO’s COVID-19 deaths report The Hindu’s Daily Quiz How do we otherwise know Section 124(A) of the Indian Penal Code? Unlawful Assembly Equality before Law Sedition Affray To find out the answer and play the full quiz, click here [logo] Editor's Pick 12 MAY 2022 [The Hindu logo] In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [Arrow]( [Open in browser]( [Mail icon]( [More newsletters]( SC’s intervention on sedition The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed that all pending trials, appeals and proceedings under [Section 124A]( [would be kept in abeyance]( enabling time to the Union of India to reconsider the British-era law. The court would now hear sedition cases, that is, the pleas challenging the validity of the provision, in the third week of July. The order came after the Union government acknowledged that the law was not in tune with contemporary times. “It is clear that the Union of India agrees with the prima facie opinion expressed by this court that the rigours of Section 124A of the IPC is not in tune with the current social milieu and was intended for a time when this country was under the colonial regime. In light of the same, the Union of India may reconsider the provision of law,” the court observed. However, the bench led by Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana did not give a deadline to the Union Government, aware that it may require legislative process. It stated that there was a need to balance security interests and integrity of the state on the one hand, and civil liberties of the citizens on the other. As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCB), 356 cases of sedition under Section 124A (sedition) have been registered with only 6 facing conviction – implying a conviction rate of about 1.7%. It was argued in court that nearly 13,000 people were already in jail under the sedition provision. The apex court ordered that those under trial under Section 124A could now use the order to seek bail. Further, those accused in fresh cases were free to approach courts (District or High Courts), which would consider their pleas as per the Supreme Court order and the “clear” stand of the Union that the provision was abused and needed “re-examination”. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor‘s Pick and more.  [Click here]( The Hindu’s Editorials [Arrow][Frozen seditionÂ]( [Arrow][Engage, not dismiss: On India’s response to WHO’s COVID-19 deaths report]( The Hindu’s Daily Quiz How do we otherwise know Section 124(A) of the Indian Penal Code? - Unlawful Assembly - Equality before Law - Sedition - Affray To find out the answer and play the full quiz, [click here]( Today’s Best Reads [[Delhi HC delivers split verdict on marital rape] Delhi HC delivers split verdict on marital rape]( [[Varanasi court to decide on survey inside Gyanvapi mosque] Varanasi court to decide on survey inside Gyanvapi mosque]( [[Data | India’s measles cases doubled in 2022, while over two crore vaccinations skipped in 2021] Data | India’s measles cases doubled in 2022, while over two crore vaccinations skipped in 2021]( [[Why has the Government not appointed a new Chief of Defence Staff? | In Focus podcast] Why has the Government not appointed a new Chief of Defence Staff? | In Focus podcast]( Copyright @ 2022, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. 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