Govt’s rethink on colonial law

Stepping away from its earlier stance, the govt has decided to review provisions of the sedition law

‘COMMITTED TO SOVEREIGNTY, INTEGRITY’

“The government of India, having considered the concerns of civil liberties and human rights, while committed to maintaining and protecting the sovereignty and integrity of this great nation, has decided to re-examine and reconsider the provisions of Section 124A (sedition) of the IPC,” the MHA said in its three-page affidavit, urging the top court to suspend the ongoing judicial scrutiny of the law

EARLIER, CENTRE BACKED THE LAW

Filing its submissions on Saturday evening, the central government backed the provisions of the law, saying there was no need to re-look at the validity of Section 124A. The government also told the court that instances of abuse of a provision would not be a justification to reconsider a binding judgment of the constitution bench

PM MODI’S INTERVENTION

The government’s affidavit highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s impetus on protection of civil liberties and the need to shed colonial baggage. It underlined that Modi “has been cognisant of various views expressed on the subject and has also periodically, in various forums, expressed his clear and unequivocal views in favour of protection of civil liberties, respect for human rights, and giving meaning to the constitutionally cherished freedoms by the people of the country”