Journalist's Arrest On Hold After Supreme Cout Decision On Sedition

The Jodhpur bench of the High Court took the decision on basis of the top court's interim order that all cases under the sedition law be put on hold and no fresh cases filed anywhere till the Centre reviews the contentious British-era law.

The third case against journalist Aman Chopra was put on hold by the Rajasthan High Court today following the Supreme Court's decision on the sedition law. The Jodhpur bench of the High Court took the decision on basis of the top court's interim order that all cases under the sedition law be put on hold and no fresh cases filed anywhere till the Centre reviews the contentious British-era law.

The Rajasthan High Court had put the arrest of the Noida-based journalist on hold yesterday and a further hearing was listed for today.

In its order today, the Jodhpur bench said, "Learned Senior Counsel Mr. Luthra and Mr. Bhandari, inform the Court that Hon'ble the Supreme Court, while hearing the matters relating to 'sedition'... has passed an interim order directing the Centre/State Government to refrain from registering any FIRs under Section 124-A of Indian Penal Code and keep all pending matters in abeyance during the period that Section 124-A of IPC is being reconsidered".

"This Court is of the view that the investigation, including petitioner's interrogation, is necessary before reaching any concrete conclusion regarding commission of offences alleged against the petitioner," the bench said.