Centre defends sedition law noting past judgement
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The Centre has asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the pleas challenging the sedition law. It noted that the constitutional bench has already examined all aspects of sedition law.
The government argued that a three-court bench cannot examine the validity of the law and the constitutional bench has already examined Section 124 A in the context of fundamental rights, like the right to equality and right to life.
The top court is hearing a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the colonial-era law. Five parties including the Editors Guild of India argue that the law is being used to suppress dissent.
The three-judge bench of Chief Justice NV Ramana and justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli is holding the next hearing on Tuesday. The top court had earlier asked the Centre why a law used by the British to silence freedom fighters is still in existence. The bench also expressed concern over the misuse of the law.
The Centre submitted a written response in which it noted the verdict in the Kedarnath Singh vs State of Bihar upholding sedition law.
