Supreme Court’s Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, in a statement, claimed that space for dissent and divergent thought is shrinking in India. He referred to the action taken on students for protesting, and remarked that youngsters are being jailed for 3 months, for consuming chicken over the Ganga river.
Speaking at a lecture in Bhopal, Justice Bhuyan said the right to express views and to protest peacefully is a constitutional guarantee, but recently those freedoms have come under strain. “Debate and dissent are the essence of democracy,” he said, adding that the space for expressing differing opinions was steadily narrowing.
“Students are jailed merely for protesting. They are suspended from their educational institutions. Bail is denied for weeks.” Referring to a case involving youths arrested after an Iftar gathering on a boat in the Ganga, Justice Bhuyan questioned on what basis they were given a prolonged detention. “I am sure consuming chicken biryani is not an offence. There is no law prohibiting consumption of chicken over the Ganga river. Can people be arrested and denied bail for three months for such an activity?” he asked.
He also warned against the growing use of restrictive bail conditions, arguing that they can discourage free speech and create a climate of self-censorship. Justice Bhuyan noted that citizens have increasingly been forced to seek legal protection over social media posts or participation in peaceful demonstrations, raising concerns about personal liberty.
Stressing that constitutional freedoms must remain meaningful in practice, he said democracy flourishes only when citizens are free to question authority, express disagreement and participate in peaceful protest without fear of disproportionate legal consequences.