Way Forward

♤ The guidelines of the SC must be incorporated in Section 124A as well by amendment to IPC so that any ambiguity must be removed. A private member bill was introduced in 2015 to amend this section. The Bill suggested that only those actions/words that directly result in the use of violence or incitement to violence should be termed seditious.

♤ The state police must be sufficiently guided as to where the section must be imposed and where not.

♤ Need to include provisions where the government can be penalized, if it misuses the section. This will ensure that section 124 A of IPC strikes a balance between security and smooth functioning of state with the fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression.