Supreme Court Refers Plea Challenging Sedition Law To Larger Constitution Bench

The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to refer a batch of pleas challenging Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalises the colonial-era offence of sedition, to a Constitution bench of at least five judges, reported news agency ANI.

The bench, led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and including Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, declined the Centre's request to postpone the reference to a larger bench, even as Parliament is in the process of re-enacting provisions of the penal code, reported news agency PTI.

Previously, on May 1, the apex court had deferred the hearing on these petitions after the Centre informed the court that it was in advanced consultations regarding a re-examination of the penal provision.