NEW DELHI: In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court has frozen sedition cases in the country. “It will be appropriate not to use this provision of law till further re-examination is over. We hope and expect that centre and state will desist from registering any FIR under sedition law till re-examination is over”, said the SC on Wednesday. The court has also directed those who are currently facing sedition charges to approach courts for bail. Earlier, the central government had informed the court that about 13,000 people are detained under sedition charges in the country.

Last day, the SC had asked the central government if the sedition law could be paused till it was re-examined. However, the centre had taken a stance against it saying that sedition cases could not be frozen.

The central government had also proposed to the Supreme Court that a police officer of the level of superintendent or above should decide, for now, on whether a sedition charge should be filed in future FIRs and that a special committee shall oversee the registration of such cases.

Meantime, there are around 20 sedition cases in Kerala. Most of them have been charged against Maoists and money launderers. However, the High Court has quashed the sedition charges on various cases, including three such cases against Maoist leader Roopesh.