In Brief
The Supreme Court examined petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (sedition provision). The petitioners argued that this 1898 colonial-era law pre-dates the Constitution and is being misused to curtail free speech. The Union of India agreed that the provision requires re-examination in light of modern civil liberties standards. The Court held that while security and integrity of the State must be protected, civil liberties cannot be ignored. It directed all pending prosecutions under Section 124A be kept in abeyance and restrained governments from registering fresh FIRs under this section, pending the government's re-examination of the provision.
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