Supreme Court puts the sedition law on hold
The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre and states to refrain from registering any FIR invoking sedition charges till further re-examination is over
"All pending cases, appeals and proceedings with respect to charges framed for sedition should be kept in abeyance," the top court said
Earlier, during the hearing, the Centre suggested that a superintendent of police ranked officer could be made responsible for monitoring the registration of FIRs for the offence of sedition.
Here are the Highlights on the Sedition Hearing
We've made our positions very clear & also informed the court about the intention of our PM. We respect the court & its independence. But there's a 'Lakshman Rekha' (line) that must be respected by all organs of the state in letter & spirit: Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju
If any fresh cases are filed, those charged can approach the court. "The Union of India is at liberty to pass directives to states to prevent misuse of the law," the Chief Justice added.
If any fresh cases are filed. Concerned parties may approach Court and request to expeditiously dispose off the same, the Supreme Court said
It will be appropriate not to use this provision of law till further rexamination is over. We hope and expect that centre and state will desist from registering any FIR under 124a or initiate proceeding under the same till rexamination is over, says CJI
There are over 800 cases of sedition filed across India. As many as 13,000 people are in jail, says Kabil Sibal appearing for petitioners
Centre tells Supreme Court that to pass any order to stay the sedition provisions upheld by a Constitution bench may not be the correct approach.
The three judge bench has taken a break for a few minutes to discuss the issue in private
we need to trust the courts: Centre on pending sedition cases
SG Tushar Mehta, appearing for Centre, tells SC that as far as pending sedition cases are concerned, gravity of each case is not known, maybe there is a terror angle, or money laundering. Ultimately, the pending cases are before judicial forum, and we need to trust the courts
Centre tells Supreme Court that a cognizable offence cannot be prevented from being registered, staying the effect may not be a correct approach and therefore, there has to be a responsible officer for scrutiny, and his satisfaction is subject to judicial review.
Sedition Case In Supreme Court: We're Doing What Nehru Couldn't, Says CentreFormer Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru who has often been at the receiving end of many a barb courtesy the ruling BJP and its leaders found mention on Tuesday during a hearing on pleas challenging the sedition law. A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana was hearing the matter.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal who was representing the petitioners was arguing about the misuse of sedition law when he said, "We are in post-constitution era. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had said that this provision is obnoxious and the sooner we get rid of sedition the better."
SC seeks Centre's reply on protecting citizens from sedition cases till it re-examines lawThe Supreme Court Tuesday sought the Centre's response on protecting citizens' interests by putting at abeyance the lodging of sedition cases till re-examination of the colonial era penal law.
The apex court agreed that the re-look of the provision be left to the Centre which has filed an affidavit in this regard.