Union Home Minister Amit Shah promised the Parliament on Friday that the sedition law “will be completely repealed” as he tabled three bills to reform the criminal justice system. Section 150 will continue to contain provisions from the sedition statute, which is scheduled to be repealed, for activities that undermine the sovereignty, unity, or integrity of India.
Currently, sedition draws a punishment of life imprisonment or with a jail term which may extend to three years. The new provision changes the three-year imprisonment to 7 years.
“Everyone has the right to speak. We are completely repealing sedition,” the Home Minister said as he moved the bills in Parliament.
The term ‘sedition’ has been removed in the new bill and the provision has been retained under Section 150 with some changes.
“Whoever, purposely or knowingly, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or by electronic communication or by use of financial mean, or otherwise, excites or attempts to excite, secession or armed rebellion or subversive activities, or encourages feelings of separatist activities or endangers sovereignty or unity and integrity of India; or indulges in or commits any such act shall be punished with imprisonment for life or with imprisonment which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine,” the new provision states.
