[BREAKING] Sedition challenge: Central government tells Supreme Court it will re-examine Section 124A

In a significant development, the Central government told the Supreme Court on Monday that it has decided to re-examine and reconsider Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) which criminalises the offence of Sedition [SG Vombatkere vs Union of India]..In an affidavit filed before the top court, the government said that in tune with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to shed colonial baggage at a time when the country is marking its 75th year of independence, the government has decided to reconsider various colonial laws. "The Government of India being fully cognizant of various views being expressed on the subject of sedition and also having considered the concerns of civil liberties and human rights, while committed to maintain and protect the sovereignty and integrity of this great nation, has decided to reexamine and reconsider the provisions of Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code which can be done only before the competent forum," the affidavit said. .In view of the same, it requested the Supreme Court not to invest its time in examining the validity of Section 124A for the time being, and to await the exercise of reconsideration being undertaken by the Government of India..The affidavit was filed in response to a batch petitions challenging the constitutionality of the colonial provision.The Supreme Court had, while issuing notice in the matter in July 2021, questioned the Central government on whether the law was needed 75 years after independence. The Court had also sought the assistance of the Attorney General in the matter.The Court is currently considering whether the matter should be referred to a Constitution Bench of five or more judges. This is in view of the 1962 verdict of the top court in Kedar Nath Singh v. State of Bihar, in which a a 5-judge Constitution Bench upheld the validity of Section 124A.The current case before the apex court is being heard by a 3-judge Bench. .The Central government's second senior most law officer, Solicitor General ,Tushar Mehta had earlier filed a note before the Court stating that the Kedar Nath Singh judgment has stood the test of time and was applied till date in tune with modern constitutional principles. The SG pointed out that only a bench of co-equal strength of Kedar Nath Singh can pose any doubts on the verdict.