Read Time: 04 minutes

The Supreme Court today directed Major General SG Vombatkere to serve a copy of his plea challenging the constitutionality of Section 124A which penalises the offence of sedition to the office of Attorney General of India. 

Bench of CJI NV Ramana, Justice AS Bopanna and Justice Hrishikesh Roy while posting the matter for tomorrow said,

“You send the copy of the plea to the office of Attorney General of India KK Venugopal. We’ll hear it tomorrow.”

Earlier bench led by Justice UU Lalit on Tuesday allowed 14 days’ time to the Centre to file an affidavit in plea challenging Section 124A Sedition in another plea filed by Manipur based journalist Kishorechandra Wangkhemcha for his allegedly seditious remarks on Facebook.

Justice UU Lalit, while hearing the matter said,

“Pursuant to the notice issued on the last date, Learned AG appeared for the Union. He requested to submit a written note. Learned SGI also appeared for the Govt. of India and prayed for a short time to submit an affidavit in response.  Let the Affidavit be filed within 2 weeks. List this matter for hearing on 27th July, 2021. Intervention Applications to be heard on the same date.”

In its hearing on April 30th, A Full Judge Bench of Justice UU Lalit, Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice KM Joseph had agreed to examine the Constitutional Validity of the Law on Sedition.

The petition filed by Manipur based Journalists had highlighted several issues related to the offence of Sedition, including, disproportionate imposition & misuse of Section 124A, India’s International Obligations under ICCPR, position in other jurisdictions, view taken by the members in Constituent Assembly Debates and the political nature of the said provision in India.

The Court is expected to hear the plea of Major General SG Vombatkere tomorrow i.e. on July 15, 2021. 

Case Title: SG Vombatkere v. Union of India| W.P.(C) No. 682/2021