In a major development, the Supreme Court on Wednesday put on hold the sedition law while underlining the need to preserve the civil liberty of the citizens.
This decision came a day after the apex court set a 24-hour deadline for the Central government to decide if the IPC’s Section 124A can be stayed to save people from arrests until the Centre reviews the law.
In an interim order, a Chief Justice of India NV Ramana-led bench said it would be fair to put the law in abeyance until the Centre examines the non-bailable section punishable with jail term going from three years to the life term.
“It will be appropriate not to use this provision of law till further re-examination is over. We hope and expect the Centre and states will desist from registering any FIR [First Information Report] under Section 124A or initiate proceedings under the same till the re-examination is over,” said the bench.