France, May 15 -- India's top court has suspended a colonial-erasedition law pending a review. The decision will impact hundreds of people who have been charged under thecode which, rights groups say, has stifled liberty in the world's largest democracy.

This is the first time a criminal law has been temporarily frozen by the Indian courts. The three-judge bench said those held on sedition charges canseek bail in the interests of balance between the security of the state and personal liberty.

"It will be appropriate not to use this provision of law until further re-examination is over," Chief Justice NVRamana said as the government offered to reconsider the 152-year-old law after having stoutly defended it.

Civil liberties campaigners ...