Minister Sadananda Gowda discusses ’sedition’ law

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, March 18, 2016 ; Union Law Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda said on March 17,   Thursday that efforts are on to define sedition, which is in question since booking of cases against Kanhaiya Kumar and other students of Jawaharlal Nehru University for allegedly raising anti-India slogans.

In an informal discussion with media on the sidelines of a seminar on Gandhian thoughts and politics at the University College, Union Law Minister  Sadananda Gowda said that there is a need to have a relook at Section 124 (a) of the Indian Penal Code. This section does not clearly define what sedition is. “There is nothing on this in Article 19 (1). There is some explanation on sedition in Article 19 (2) of the Constitution,” he said.

Minister Sadananda Gowda said that sedition needs to be defined in a more elaborate way. “It will not be a one-day affair. We have to put everything in public domain, hear and get the feedback,” he said.

Referring to the creation of Anti-Corruption Bureau in the State, he said that the State government was making  the institution of Lokayutha redundant.