'Lakshman Rekha' cannot be crossed: Union Minister on SC's stay on sedition trials
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New Delhi: Reacting to the Supreme Court's order staying all proceedings in sedition cases, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday said that the government has made its position very clear, adding that there is a "Lakshman Rekha" that needs to be respected by all organs of the state.
"We've made our positions very clear and also informed the court about the intention of our PM. We respect the court and its independence. But there's a 'Lakshman Rekha' (line) that must be respected by all organs of the state in letter and spirit," ANI quoted Rijiju as saying.
"We respect each other, the court should respect government, legislature, so as government should also respect the court. We have a clear demarcation of boundary and that Lakshman Rekha should not be crossed by anybody," Mr. Rijiju added.
As he made the sharp comment, Mr Rijiju evaded a question on whether he believed the Supreme Court's decision was wrong.
While pausing the controversial colonial-era law being reviewed by the government, the Supreme Court said the court's job was to balance civil liberty and sovereignty of the state, "a difficult exercise".
A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana said all pending cases, appeals, and proceedings with respect to charges framed for sedition should be kept in abeyance.
Reliefs granted to the accused by courts would continue, it said, and fixed the third week of July for hearing pleas challenging the validity of the provision; by then, the Centre would have the time to undertake the exercise to re-examine the provision.
The Supreme Court also said the government was "at liberty" to pass directives to states to prevent misuse of the law. If fresh cases were filed, courts must "expeditiously dispose" of them, said the Chief Justice.
On Monday, the government, in a U-turn, said it had decided to review the sedition law and requested more time from the Supreme Court, which is hearing petitions challenging the law.
Today's historic order impacts hundreds charged under the colonial-era sedition law once used against Mahatma Gandhi. Those already jailed for sedition can approach courts for bail.