The 22nd Law Commission of India headed by former Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court Ritu Raj Awasthi has recommended that Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which criminalises sedition, should be retained in the statute book with certain changes.

Altered section says "Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards, the Government established by law in lndia, with a tendency to incite violence or cause public disorder shall be punished with imprisonment for life, to which fine may be added, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, to which fine may be added, or with fine."

The expression "tendency" would mean mere inclination to incite violence or cause public disorder rather than proof of actual violence or imminent threat to violence, the report clarified.

Currently, it provides for life imprisonment or imprisonment upto 3 years. The Commission has suggested that the jail term of 3 years be enhanced to 7 years.