Sedition: Hold the celebrations. We need repeal, not just relief Apar Gupta in Voices, India May 14, 2022, 9:17 PM IST
The Law Commission of India in a consultation paper in August 2018 said that, “the global trend has largely been against sedition and in favour of free speech”. However, this paper did not result in a report, and no further reports followed as the Union government has failed to constitute it since the retirement of its chairperson Justice B S Chauhan. Subsequently, a committee was established by the ministry of home affairs in May 2020 to recommend reforms to Indian criminal law. While the committee has attempted to invite public feedback and has also made recommendations as reported in the press, concerns have been expressed on bypassing the institutional processes of the Law Commission of India.
an amendment to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2019 (UAPA) that permits even individuals, not just groups, to be designated as terrorist. UAPA is being abused frequently in criminal cases being bunched alongside sedition. The second and much more recent law is the Criminal Procedure Identification Act, 2022 which expands police powers of surveillance.
the incremental relief provided by the court. We must welcome it with caution and criticality but remember it is incomplete. This relief will completely fail if sedition is not struck off our statute books by the legislature, failing which by the Supreme Court, in a timely manner. This is important for protecting the democratic rights of every Indian internet user.