Section 124A IPC defining 'sedition' was kept in abeyance by the Supreme Court in:
AS. G. Vombatkere v. Union of India, (2022) 7 SCC 433 — orders Centre/States not to register fresh FIRs
BKedar Nath Singh v. State of Bihar, AIR 1962 SC 955 — narrowing test laid down for first time
CRomesh Thapar v. State of Madras, AIR 1950 SC 124 — pre-constitutional challenge to S. 124A
DBrij Bhushan v. State of Delhi, AIR 1950 SC 129 — Cross-Border Press Act decision
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. S. G. Vombatkere v. Union of India, (2022) 7 SCC 433 — orders Centre/States not to register fresh FIRs
1. Section 124A IPC criminalises bringing or attempting to bring into hatred or contempt, or exciting or attempting to excite disaffection towards, the Government established by law in India.
2. Kedar Nath Singh v. State of Bihar (1962) UPHELD Section 124A but read it down: only incitement to violence or public disorder is punishable, not mere criticism.
3. In S. G. Vombatkere v. Union of India (May 2022), the Supreme Court directed all pending Section 124A proceedings to be kept in abeyance and the Centre/States not to register fresh FIRs under Section 124A while the matter is reconsidered.
4. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (which replaces IPC) carries Section 152 covering similar conduct without the word 'sedition'.
5. Hence option B is correct on the abeyance order.
_Source: Indian Penal Code 1860 / Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 / Indian Evidence Act 1872 (Bare Acts, indiacode.nic.in) — S. G. Vombatkere v. Union of India, (2022) 7 SCC 433; Kedar Nath Singh v. State of Bihar, AIR 1962 SC 955_
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