By TCN Special Correspondent,
New Delhi: Civil Rights activists and organisations from across the country unanimously resolved on Sunday here in Delhi that the law of sedition (section 124A of Indian Penal Code) should be repealed with retrospective effect. Terming it colonial, more than 250 activists, both individual and representing various civil and human rights groups took this issue to the street and vowed to gather 10 million signatures to put the demand before Indian Parliament in next session.
The seminar, which witnessed participation of legal luminaries like Justice Rajendar Sachar and Justice A P Shah (both retired Chief Justices of Delhi High Court) raised serious concerns regarding draconian laws like Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), National Security Act (NSA), etc. Repeal of these laws was demanded as well.
Earlier on Saturday, Professor Prabhakar Sinha, National President of PUCL while inaugurating the two-day seminar wondered, “Why would free India need more draconian laws than colonial regime?” “It seems that the colonial powers were more sensitive while making laws,” he added. “Unfortunately, the attack by the State on the Life and Personal liberty of its people in Democratic India is growing day by day. So it is time to come together and fight against all these violations,” he appealed.
Dr. Binayak Sen, President of PUCL Chattisgarhm, asked the gathering to evolve an institutionalized mechanism to oversee the process conducted in local courts even in routine cases. Paying his gratitude to all those who stood by him he said, “I was fortunate to have the support of so many friends inside and outside the country in this fight”. “But let’s remember that I am not alone in this sense. I am also not alone as thousands and thousands across the country are in same condition of incarceration which I myself found in,” he added.
Civil Rights’ Activist, Mahtab Alam while presenting the cases of attack by the State on Life and Personal liberty of its people said, “Ever since the so-called war on terror has been declared, hundreds of Muslim youths have been detained and tortured on mere suspicion and charged with sedition”. Citing examples of Malegaon, Ajmer, Jaipur and Hyderabad cases he said, “Many Muslim youth were detained from these cities, charged and spent many years in jail (many of them are still in Jail) just because they were allegedly found in possession of Jihadi literature which was later proved wrong during the course of trial”.
Serious concern over misuse of ordinary laws, jail conditions and violation of the Supreme Court guidelines regarding maintenance of Human Rights, attack and arrest of Human Rights’ Defenders was also expressed. The participants agreed to launch movements in their respective states on these issues.