Former Chief Justice of India Uday Umesh Lalit has termed the fair criticism of government policies and matters as a cherished right of every journalist, while underscoring that the same did not fall under the ambit of law on sedition.
Speaking during the award ceremony at India chapter of the International Press Institute (IPI-India) in New Delhi on Friday, the former CJI observed that fair criticism was the right of every individual, which did not attract charges under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code.
Justice Lalit said that Section 124A of IPC, commonly called the sedition law, had always remained a thorn in the flesh for all journalistic ventures, calling the mediapersons as sentinels of the society.
The former CJI further spoke about how freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak had defended himself in a court when the charge of sedition was levelled against him by the British rulers, yet he was convicted and sentenced to six years of imprisonment.
On May 10 last year, the Special Bench of the Supreme Court, comprising then Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana, Justice Surya Kant and Justice Hima Kohli had ruled that the 152-year old sedition law under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code should be effectively kept in abeyance till the Union Government reconsidered the provision.
The interim order directed both the Union of India and the State governments to refrain from registering any FIR, continuing investigation, or taking any coercive steps under Section 124 A IPC while it was under reconsideration.
In the event of such cases being registered, the Apex Court said it was giving liberty to the parties to approach the court, while the court was directed to expeditiously dispose of the case.
Further, the top court of the country granted liberty to those convicted in sedition cases and currently lodged in jail to approach the appropriate courts for bail.