There is a growing tendency to treat dissent or protest as a crime; ordinary, routine protests are being viewed as criminal acts. Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan expressed concern over this matter in a speech.
He stated, “Harsh laws are being invoked against students protesting on campuses, with some of them having to spend 30 to 40 days in jail.”
Yesterday, Saturday, Justice Bhuyan attended the 4th Justice GP Singh Memorial Lecture at the National Law University in Bhopal.
Justice Bhuiyan also cited examples where criminality is attributed to ordinary activities. He noted that some youths were arrested in Varanasi for eating chicken biryani on a boat on the Ganges. There is no law prohibiting the consumption of chicken on the Ganges. I am certain that eating biryani while sitting on a boat on the river is not a crime at all. Yet, these youths have to spend three months in jail.
The judge observed that a similar pattern is evident in movements concerning environmental degradation. Those raising concerns about potential environmental damage from a project are not mistaken; their apprehensions are valid. While discussions are being held with them, they are being chased with batons as if they were criminals.
Justice Bhuiyan stated that expressing one’s views and engaging in peaceful protest are fundamental freedoms of citizens. Debate and dissent lie at the very heart of democracy.
There is a growing tendency to treat dissent or protest as a crime; ordinary, routine protests are being viewed as criminal acts. Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan expressed concern over this matter in a speech.
He stated, “Harsh laws are being invoked against students protesting on campuses, with some of them having to spend 30 to 40 days in jail.”
Yesterday, Saturday, Justice Bhuyan attended the 4th Justice GP Singh Memorial Lecture at the National Law University in Bhopal.
Justice Bhuyan also cited examples of how criminal offenses are sometimes perceived in ordinary activities. He mentioned that a few youths were detained in Varanasi for eating chicken biryani on a boat on the Ganges. There is no law prohibiting the consumption of chicken on the Ganges. I am certain that eating biryani while sitting on a boat on the river is not a crime at all; yet, these youths have to spend three months in jail.
The judge observed that a similar pattern is evident in movements concerning environmental degradation. Those raising concerns about potential environmental damage from a project are not mistaken; their apprehensions are valid. While discussions are being held with them, they are being chased with batons as if they were criminals.
Justice Bhuiyan stated that expressing one’s views and engaging in peaceful protest are fundamental freedoms of citizens. Debate and dissent lie at the very heart of democracy.
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