Supreme Court Voice Flags Growing Misuse of State Power
Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has voiced deep concern over the police assault on student protesters at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. Speaking at a book release in the national capital, the senior judge described the physical violence as very distressing. He highlighted that excessive force by law enforcement represents a matter of grave concern for a constitutional democracy.
The event marked the launch of Policing the Republic, a book authored by former security secretary Yashovardhan Azad. Addressing legal and political figures, Justice Bhuyan warned that professional detachment is rapidly eroding among uniformed officers.
[Peaceful Assembly] ───► [Excessive Police Force] ───► Threat to Rule of Law
│
▼
[Constitutional Reforms] ◄── [Judicial Interventions] ◄── Judicial Scrutiny
Judicial Observations on Police Conduct and Crowd Restraint
| Event Attribute | Official Details & Remarks |
| Event Location | Viceroy Hall, New Delhi |
| Keynote Speaker | Supreme Court Judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan |
| Book Launched | Policing the Republic by Yashovardhan Azad |
| Prominent Attendees | P. Chidambaram, D. Sivanandhan |
| Core Judicial Warning | Diminishing professional detachment in Indian Police Service |
The judge expressed dismay over senior uniformed personnel engaging directly in physical violence against citizens exercising their right to peaceful assembly. “All of us are dismayed when we see young officers of the Indian Police Service personally going and assaulting protesters,” Justice Bhuyan noted.
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He emphasised that professional restraint and operational neutrality are disappearing when officers handle public demonstrations. Consequently, the public standing and credibility of law enforcement face severe erosion across the nation.
Furthermore, Justice Bhuyan clarified that effective policing can occur strictly within constitutional boundaries. Authorities do not need to resort to excessive force, cruel treatment, or human rights violations to maintain public order.
Reaffirming Dissent as a Fundamental Right of Citizenship
| Key Constitutional Principle | Judicial Interpretation by Justice Ujjal Bhuyan |
| Right to Dissent | Essential expression of liberty and democratic citizenship |
| Freedom of Thought | Democracy does not require uniformity or suppression of hard views |
| Fundamental Rights | Citizens retain fundamental rights to dignity even under detention |
| Protection from State Action | Asking questions must never trigger state-sponsored punitive action |
Justice Bhuyan’s sharp remarks follow growing public scrutiny over police crackdowns on demonstrations at Jantar Mantar. His observations align with recent public addresses where he asserted that questioning authorities is an essential expression of liberty.
Students holding divergent views or demanding institutional accountability must never be threatened with state-sponsored punitive action. Disagreement or dissent cannot be treated as something that must be silenced or punished by force.
In addition, the top court recently quashed criminal FIRs against student demonstrators involved in nationwide rallies. The apex court invoked Article 142 to protect the academic futures of young citizens exercising their rights peacefully.
Institutional Accountability and Demands for Police Reforms
| Contextual Factor | Impact on Constitutional Framework |
| State Functionaries Breaking Laws | Breeds widespread societal contempt for the rule of law |
| Unlawful Custodial Force | Violates constitutional guarantees under Article 21 |
| Political Interference | Subverts institutional independence and weakens democracy |
Warning against state functionaries breaking legal boundaries, Justice Bhuyan stressed that lawbreaking by enforcers breeds general contempt for law. No civilised nation governed by constitutional norms can permit such breakdown to occur unchecked.
He cited key constitutional protections, reminding agencies that citizens do not forfeit their right to dignity when confronted by state power. The judge also cautioned against political interference, which transforms independent police forces into tools that undermine democracy.
These judicial observations reinforce growing calls for comprehensive structural reforms across India’s police administration. Strict adherence to established constitutional safeguards remains vital to preserving democratic freedoms and maintaining public trust.