Is this law still necessary?: SC on challenging constitutionality of sedition law
“This was the statute that the British used to silence Mahatma Gandhi. Do you believe this law is still necessary?” said Chief Justice of India N V Ramana on Thursday, as the court heard a petition challenging the statute's constitutionality.
As the Supreme Court received a new petition challenging the constitutionality of the sedition statute on Thursday, the Chief Justice of India questioned whether the "law used by the British to silence Mahatma Gandhi is still relevant after 75 years of independence."
“This was the law used by the British to suppress Mahatma Gandhi. Do you believe this law is still needed?” argues Chief Justice of India N V Ramana.
The CJI-led panel stated that there is a severe potential of misuse of sedition law, saying, "The massive power of misuse of this section [124-A] is like giving a carpenter a saw...he cuts down the forest." That is the potency of this law if it is abused.”
The top court also expressed worry about the lack of accountability. “There is also no accountability. Everyone is afraid when they see Section 124-A in the FIR,” the SC remarked.
Furthermore, “our main concern is the misuse of this law and the responsibility of the entities that employ it. There is a considerable risk of misappropriation,” the court added.
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