Four years after putting on hold sedition law, SC says trials can proceed if accused has no objection
The Supreme Court of India has allowed trials for sedition cases to proceed if the accused does not object. This decision comes four years after the court had put such trials on hold while the government reviewed the colonial-era sedition law. The court emphasized the need to balance state security interests with citizens' civil liberties.
- ▪The Supreme Court clarified that trials can continue if the accused has no objection to the proceedings.
- ▪The clarification was issued while hearing a plea from a petitioner who has been incarcerated for 17 years on sedition charges.
- ▪The court had previously put trials on hold until the government re-examined the sedition law under Section 124A of the IPC.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Four years after putting on hold trials in sedition cases in courts across the country, the Supreme Court on Thursday (May 21, 2026) said that courts can proceed with trials and appeals involving the offence of sedition under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) if the accused had no objection.The clarification was issued by a Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi while hearing a plea filed by a petitioner who has remained incarcerated for 17 years in a case involving sedition charges. Supreme Court puts colonial sedition law on hold“The petitioner’s grievance is that he has no objection if his criminal appeal is heard in its entirety, including with respect to the charge under Section 124A. That being so, we clarify...
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Hindu — Top.
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