SC seeks Centre’s reply on defending residents from sedition circumstances until it re-examines regulation

By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Tuesday requested the Centre to apprise it in regards to the views on the problem of safety of curiosity of residents until the colonial-era penal regulation on sedition is reconsidered by an acceptable discussion board.

A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana took notice of the submissions of the Centre that mentioned it has determined to “re-examine and reconsider” the sedition regulation by an “appropriate forum” and sought the response to a suggestion whether or not the submitting of sedition circumstances in future be saved at abeyance until re-examination.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, showing for the Centre, mentioned that he would take instruction from the federal government and apprise the bench on Wednesday.

“We are making it very clear. We want instructions. We will give you time till tomorrow. Our specific queries are: one about pending cases and the second, as to how the government will take care of future cases”, mentioned the bench.

It sought a response on the problem saying “if future cases can be kept at abeyance till reconsideration is over”.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs in an affidavit filed earlier than the apex courtroom on Tuesday mentioned the choice was in tune with the views of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on shedding “colonial baggage”, noting he has been in favour of the safety of civil liberties and respect of human rights and in that spirit, over 1,500 outdated legal guidelines and over 25,000 compliance burdens have been scrapped.

The high courtroom has been listening to a clutch of pleas difficult the validity of the regulation on sedition which has been below intense public scrutiny for its alleged misuse to settle political scores by numerous governments.