Section 124A IPC
Sedition (Now Replaced by BNS Section 152)
Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (inserted in 1870 under colonial rule) defined sedition as any act by words, signs, or representations that brings or attempts to bring hatred, contempt, or disaffection towards the government established by law. It was punishable with imprisonment for life or up to three years, plus a fine. The provision was introduced by the British to suppress political dissent, notably used against leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Mahatma Gandhi.
- Section 124A was inserted into the IPC in 1870 by the British colonial administration.
- The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 — which replaced the IPC — removed Section 124A but introduced Section 152, which criminalises "acts endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India." Critics argue Section 152 is broader and more vaguely worded than its predecessor.
- Section 152 BNS does not require a nexus with incitement to violence — marking a departure from the protective interpretation laid down in Kedar Nath Singh (1962).
- In S.G. Vombatkere v. Union of India (2022), the Supreme Court put Section 124A "in abeyance," directing that no FIR be registered under it while it was under review.
● Tracked since May 21, 2026 · last seen May 24, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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