'Is this law necessary?' SC seeks Centre's response on pleas challenging sedition law

Recalling the the colonial sedition law was used by the British against freedom fighters such as Mahatma Gandhi and Bal Ganadar Tilak, Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana wondered if the law was necess

Recalling the the colonial sedition law was used by the British against freedom fighters such as Mahatma Gandhi and Bal Ganadar Tilak, Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana wondered if the law was necessary after 75 years of Independence. A three-judge bench also comprising Justices S Bopanna and Hrishikesh Roy on Thursday agreed to examine a fresh plea by a former army officer challenging the Constitutional validity of the sedition law on the ground that it causes "chilling effect" on speech and is an unreasonable restriction on free expression, a fundamental right. Several pleas including one by Editors Guild of India, have challenged the law. "If you look at the history of use of this Section 124A of IPC, you will find that the conviction rate is very low. There is misuse of power by executive agencies," CJI Ramana told to Attorney General K.K. Venugopal, who is pleading on behalf of the Union government.