Supreme Court puts sedition law on hold

Orders no new cases to be filed under Section 124A

New Delhi – The Supreme Court temporarily stayed the use of the sedition law and directed the Centre and States not to register any fresh FIRs invoking sedition charges until the law is reviewed. The Supreme Court said, “It is clear that the Centre agrees that the rigours of Section 124A are not in tune with the current situation”. It is for the first time the Government agreed to rethink the issue on 9th May. Thereafter, the Court granted permission to the Centre to reconsider it. The Court has specified that till then, no FIR should be registered under the sedition law.


Taking note of the affidavit submitted by the Centre, the Division Bench presided over by CJI NV Ramana had asked for the clarification of this law. The Court had asked, what were they going to do regarding the sedition cases already booked ? and whether they would register new cases under the said law till it is being reviewed ?

While responding to these questions, the Centre appealed to the Court on 11th May to grant them some time to review the said section. The Court has agreed to it.