FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE of the Allahabad High Court, Govind Mathur, shared his views on the recent crackdown on student protesters with The Leaflet, marking his first comments on the issue. Various bodies, including the Supreme Court Bar Association and the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association, have already condemned the police action against the protesters. The full text of his message is reproduced below.
“The Constitution of India envisions a system of governance in which the liberty, equality, justice, and dignity of every citizen remain inviolable. Democracy does not merely mean holding elections every five years; it also requires that citizens’ dissent be heard with respect, that the right to peaceful protest be protected, and that the government remain accountable to the people.
The recent attempts to suppress protest and dissent through harsh measures are contrary to these fundamental democratic principles. When people express concerns about inflation, unemployment, corruption, education, healthcare, or economic policies, it is the duty of a democratic government to engage in dialogue and address those concerns—not to respond with coercion and repression.
