SFLC.in sent its recommendations to the Criminal Reforms Committee on 16th September 2020. Our recommendations covered criminal sanctions against free speech offences mainly Sedition(Section 124-A of Indian Penal Code) and Criminal Defamation(Section 499 and 500 of IPC).

We believe that our laws on sedition and criminal defamation in their current form are causing chilling effect on free speech. The essence of democracy lies in dissent and it is important that our legal jurisprudence doesn't penalize citizens for practicing free speech.

Our recommendations to the committee focus on keeping minimum restrictions against free speech. SFLC.in sincerely hopes that these recommendations are taken into consideration by the committe