NEW DELHI: As a debate rages over the sedition law after the arrest of JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar, Government today said it has not received any formal representation seeking review or repeal of this colonial-era measure.
A total of 47 cases under the sedition law were reported across the country in 2014 with only one conviction that year, the Lok Sabha was told.
Responding to a question, Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary said, “The government has not received any formal representation regarding review/repeal of the sedition law.”
He added, however, that in October, 2012, a request was made by the Home Ministry to the Ministry of Law and Justice to study the usage of the provisions of Section 124A of IPC and suggest amendments.
The Law Ministry requested the Law Commission to consider undertaking a comprehensive review of criminal laws in the country, he said.
“On December 11, 2014, the Law Commission intimated that they have identified certain focus areas and formed sub-groups to deliberate (on these),” Chaudhary said.
The minister said that the National Crime Records Bureau has since 2014 been collecting data about cases registered under Section 124A — which pertains to “attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or… Excite disaffection towards the government established by law in India”.
The data on 2015 is still being collected, he added.
As per the data for 2014 shared by Chaudhary, only eight states reported a total of 47 cases in the country under the sedition law with the maximum of 18 cases registered in Jharkhand followed by 16 in Bihar.(Agencies)
Follow our WhatsApp channel