The Law Commission of India Chairman Justice Rituraj Awasthi in an exclusive interview with the sources said that the Sedition law is the need of the hour and they have examined the usage of law and that it is much needed seeing the current condition of the country.
“Sedition law is very much needed. We have thoroughly examined the issue of the usage of Sedition law. We have submitted our report to the government. We have said that it is very much required in the present situation of the country for integrity and unity,” Justice Awasthi said while talking to ANI.
“From Kashmir to Kerala and from Punjab to North East, if you see the situation, you’ll see it’s required for the integrity of the country”, he added.
The Law Commission of India recently in its report submitted to Law Ministry recommended that Section 124A of IPC dealing with Sedition needs to be retained in the Indian Penal Code, through certain amendments, so as to bring about greater clarity regarding the usage of the provision.
We further recommend that the scheme of punishment provided under the said section be amended to ensure that it is brought in parity with the other offences under Chapter VI of IPC, stated the Law Commission report.
Moreover, cognizant of the views regarding the misuse of Section 124A, the Commission recommends that model guidelines curbing the same be issued by the Central Government. In this context, it is also alternatively suggested that a provision analogous to Section 196(3) of the Code of Criminal
Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) may be incorporated as a proviso to Section 154 of CrPC, which would provide the requisite procedural safeguard before the filing of an FIR with respect to an offence under Section 124A of IPC, said Law Commission in its report to Law Ministry.
The reasons leading upto these recommendations have been deliberated over in detail in the enclosed Report and the Commission is of the firm belief that incorporating the same would go a long way in addressing the concerns associated with the usage of this provision, the report added.
Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Chairperson of the 22nd Law Commission of India in the report based on ‘Usage of the Law of Sedition’ stated, “We undertook a comprehensive study of the law relating to sedition and its usage in India, tracing its genesis and development.”
The Commission also analysed the history of sedition, both in colonial and independent India, the law on sedition in various jurisdictions, and the various pronouncements of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and the High Courts on the subject matter.
The Law Commission Reporter stated that it received a reference from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India for a study of the usage of the provision of Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) and suggest amendments, if any.
The constitutionality of Section 124A of IPC was challenged before the Supreme Court. The Union of India assured the Supreme Court that it was re-examining Section 124A and the Court may not invest its valuable time in doing the same.
Pursuant to the same and vide order passed on May 11, 2022, the Supreme Court directed the Central Government and all the State Governments to refrain from registering any FIR or taking any coercive measures, while suspending all continuing investigations in relation to Section 124A.
Further, it also directed that all pending trials, appeals, and proceedings be kept in abeyance.
Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code lays down the punishment for sedition. The Indian Penal Code was enacted in 1860, under the British Raj.
India’s sedition law, section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, is absurdly broad, making it a criminal offense to “bring, or attempt to bring, into hatred or contempt, or excite disaffection towards, the Government.” “Disaffection” is defined to include “disloyalty and all feelings of enmity.” The maximum punishment is life in prison.
