Rights activists praise Indian Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan for defending dissent, questioning arrests, bail denials, and shrinking democratic space.
Newsroom (28/07/2026 Gaudium Press ) India’s rights advocates have welcomed strong remarks by Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, who warned that peaceful debate and dissent, essential components of democracy, are increasingly being met with arrests, prolonged detention, and restrictive bail conditions across the country.
Speaking on July 25 at the National Law Institute University in Bhopal, in central India, Justice Bhuyan voiced concern that democratic space in the country is narrowing despite India’s claim as the world’s largest democracy. The judge questioned why students, activists, and ordinary citizens participating in protests were being denied bail for extended periods and criticized judicial practices that impose conditions limiting the constitutional right to freedom of expression.
His comments drew immediate support from civil society figures, journalists, and rights activists who argued that his observations reflect the realities faced by many communities, particularly religious minorities and government critics.
John Dayal, senior journalist and spokesperson for the All India Catholic Union, described the judge’s remarks as “principled comments” that deserve recognition. He said Justice Bhuyan had articulated concerns that “speak directly to the lived experience of large sections of our society, particularly those belonging to minority communities.”
During his lecture, Justice Bhuyan highlighted a recent incident in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. He referred to the March 17 arrest of eight Muslim men who had gathered on a boat in the Ganga River for iftar, the meal that breaks the daily Ramadan fast. The gathering took place in Varanasi, one of Hinduism’s holiest cities.
According to the judge, the men were arrested by police for consuming chicken and allegedly defiling the sacred river. Questioning the legal basis of the action, Bhuyan said there was no law prohibiting the consumption of chicken on the river.
“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.
The judge also criticized the refusal of permission for a pro-Palestine demonstration in Mumbai, India’s financial capital, raising broader concerns about restrictions on public expression and assembly.
Father Cedric Prakash, a Jesuit priest and prominent rights activist, said the judge had highlighted several fundamental issues related to the protection of constitutional freedoms and the role of dissent in a healthy democracy.
According to Prakash, those most frequently targeted are often minorities, students, and individuals critical of the government.
“Those targeted for the flimsiest of reasons are the minorities, the students and those who are critical of the ruling regime,” he said.
Prakash further argued that Justice Bhuyan’s intervention serves as an important reminder of the judiciary’s responsibility to defend rights guaranteed under the Constitution. He called on lawmakers and law enforcement authorities to take note of the concerns raised and ensure that democratic institutions function in accordance with those principles.
“The judge has set the right tone and direction of the responsibility which is entrusted to the judiciary,” he said.
Other activists linked the judge’s remarks to broader social and political developments in the country. Ram Puniyani, convenor of the National Solidarity Forum, said the concerns expressed by Justice Bhuyan were particularly relevant amid what he described as the growing influence of Hindu nationalism in India’s multi-faith society.
“Hindu nationalism is on the offensive, doing everything it can to demonize religious minorities,” Puniyani said.
Irfan Engineer, director of the Center for Study of Society and Secularism, argued that the lecture exposed shortcomings within both law enforcement and judicial systems. He said religious minorities continue to face stereotyping and discrimination.
“Hindu fundamentalists look at Christians as a threat to the nation because of the false conversion narrative while looking down upon Muslims as terrorists,” Engineer said.
Godfrey Pimenta, a trustee of the Watchdog Foundation, emphasized that democratic systems depend on the protection of civil liberties. He said citizens must be able to exercise their rights freely, including the right to debate, dissent, and express differing viewpoints without fear of punishment.
The strong response to Justice Bhuyan’s lecture underscores ongoing concerns among rights groups about the state of civil liberties in India. For many activists, the judge’s remarks represent an important public defense of constitutional freedoms at a time when questions about arrests, bail practices, minority rights, and freedom of expression continue to generate debate across the country.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCA News
