Hello
SC refers pleas against sedition law to a Constitution bench
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Bill, 2023 lists new offences such as acts of secession, armed rebellion, subversive activities, separatist activities or endangering the sovereignty or unity in the Section 150.
Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code dealing with sedition is at present under abeyance following directions of the Supreme Court issued in May, 2022.
According to official data, Section 124A has been invoked mostly against Maoist activists in Kerala who were allegedly involved in encounters with the police, issuing threats, pasting of inflammatory posters and distribution of pamphlets.
Out of the cases registered, chargesheets were filed in 141 cases while only six people were convicted for the offence in six years of the period discussed in the data.
Since the PM has directed to remove all obsolete and colonial laws, close to 1,500 legislations have been repealed, said the minister.
While prosecuting a high-profile critic like Mevani may be politically thrilling, the disturbing trend is that police forces controlled by different parties are focusing more and more on prosecuting critics for their speeches and statements.
'Is it still necessary to keep this in statute even after 75 years of independence?' asked the bench which also comprised Justices A S Bopanna and Hrishikesh Roy.
Sulthana said police personnel visited her home without informing her.
Considering a plea filed by Sulthana seeking to quash the FIR registered against her by the Kavaratti police, the High Court said investigation in the case was in a preliminary stage and more time may be required for completing the probe.