Ujjal Bhuyan: The ongoing debate regarding the violence against students and protesters at Jantar Mantar recently received new attention following Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan’s comments on the same.
Justice Ujjal Bhuyan Questions Police Conduct
Justice Bhuyan commented on the growing trend of Indian Police Service officers getting personally involved in beating up the protesters and the apparent loss of their detachment in handling protests by citizens. These comments have been made amid continuing discussions regarding the violence faced by the protesting students and citizens at Jantar Mantar.
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Questioning the Use of Police Force
The Supreme Court justice noted that policing does not involve the abuse of power or violations of people’s rights. Bhuyan stated that the police represent the authority of the state to the general public. Therefore, maintaining public credibility is a key aspect of policing. Thus, police departments should work in accordance with the Constitution and laws.
Protests at Jantar Mantar
The statements have been made against the backdrop of continuing controversy about the police handling of student protests at Jantar Mantar. The protests have seen complaints of excessive force and injuries inflicted upon the protesters. On the other hand, there have been calls for accountability for how the protests have been dealt with by the administration. Furthermore, the ongoing discussions have touched on how to strike a balance between the need for enforcing law and order and protecting the rights of people exercising their rights to protest peacefully.
Justice Bhuyan’s Earlier Statements About Dissent
The current statements have come soon after Justice Bhuyan made some earlier statements defending the right of students to question and raise dissenting views. Justice Bhuyan had argued that students cannot be penalized for merely expressing different views and asking questions. He said that this was a misuse of authority and pointed out that dissent is a part of democracy.
