Why Supreme Court rulings have revived debate on sedition law

First introduced in 1870, the primary objective of the sedition law was to deal with “increasing Wahabi activities” in India during those times as they posed a challenge to the British colonial government.

Following a series of observations and rulings by the judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court this year, first in February-March and now May-June, eminent personalities from various walks of life have demanded abolition or amendment to the sedition law as it exists today in India. Among those calling for a change in the sedition law are politicians such as Kapil Sibal, celebrity Dia Mirza, historian S Irfan Habib and filmmaker Pritish Nandy, who is a former parliamentarian.