Section 124A IPC, enacted in 1870 under British rule, criminalized sedition with life imprisonment penalty. In May 2022, Supreme Court stayed its operation in S.G. Vombatkere v. Union of India, directing no fresh FIRs without court approval. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 replaced it with Section 152, maintaining similar language but adding 'secession or armed rebellion' elements. Over 13,000 sedition cases filed between 2010-2020, with conviction rate below 10%. Law Critics argue colonial-era provision stifles dissent and free speech.

Sedition law represents the tension between national security and fundamental rights in Indian democracy. Originally drafted by Thomas Macaulay to suppress anti-colonial movements, Section 124A criminalized words, signs or visible representations that bring hatred or contempt toward the government. The Supreme Court in Kedar Nath Singh (1962) narrowed its scope, requiring incitement to violence or public disorder, not mere criticism. However, enforcement remained problematic with vague interpretations leading to arrests of activists, journalists, and students. The 2022 stay came after mounting criticism about misuse, particularly cases involving climate activist Disha Ravi and farmer protesters. The BNS replacement under Section 152 retains the core framework but adds specific mentions of secession and armed rebellion, indicating the state's continued emphasis on territorial integrity. This evolution reflects India's struggle to balance colonial legal inheritance with constitutional values of free speech, while addressing contemporary security challenges including terrorism and separatism in border regions.