New Delhi, July 23: Senior Supreme Court advocate and distinguished fellow at the International Law Centre, Ashok Bhan, has said that recent reports of police action against a peaceful protest organised by the Cockroach Janata Party raise serious constitutional concerns and underscore the need to safeguard democratic dissent.

While speaking at a meeting of young lawyers organised by Lawyers Guild, Bhan said the Constitution of India not only permits peaceful protest but expressly protects it through Articles 19(1)(a), 19(1)(b) and 19(1)(c), which guarantee the freedoms of speech and expression, peaceful assembly and association.

Bhan said any disproportionate police action, arbitrary detention or excessive use of force against peaceful demonstrators should be subjected to a fair, impartial and transparent inquiry.

“Accountability is not directed against the police as an institution; rather, it is essential to preserving public confidence in the rule of law,” he said, as per Indica News.

Bhan said that the police are “guardians of the Constitution” and not instruments of political partisanship. Their primary responsibility, he said, is to facilitate peaceful democratic expression while maintaining public order, with the use of coercive powers remaining an exception rather than the norm.

Referring to Supreme Court jurisprudence, Bhan noted that the apex court has repeatedly described dissent as the “safety valve” of democracy and said peaceful disagreement cannot be treated as disorder merely because it challenges those in authority.

“The constitutional principles involved apply equally to every citizen, every political party and every civil society organisation. The erosion of democratic freedoms for one inevitably threatens the freedoms of all,” he said.

Drawing parallels with India’s freedom movement, Bhan said the country’s struggle for independence was rooted in peaceful public mobilisation, civil disobedience and moral courage. He cautioned against narrowing the democratic space that had inspired the nation’s fight for liberty.

At the same time, he emphasised that organisers of public demonstrations have a responsibility to ensure protests remain peaceful, disciplined and respectful of the rights of others, rejecting violence and damage to public property.

Calling for “constitutional statesmanship”, Bhan urged the government to reassure citizens that peaceful dissent would be protected. He also called on police authorities to strengthen professionalism, restraint and accountability, while urging civil society and political leaders across the spectrum to reaffirm their commitment to democratic values.

He said India’s democracy has earned global respect because of its tradition of accommodating diverse opinions and constitutional dialogue.

“The true measure of a democracy lies not in how it treats those who support the government, but in how it protects the rights of those who peacefully disagree with it,” Bhan said.

New Delhi, Jul 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced that the government has decided to establish fast-track courts to ensure the swift trial and stringent punishment of those involved in examination paper leak cases.

Stressing that the welfare and future of the country’s youth are of paramount importance, the Prime Minister said the decision is part of a series of measures aimed at protecting the interests of students and preserving the integrity of examinations.

“Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth,” Modi said.
He said the concerned authorities and officials have been directed to take all necessary steps for setting up the fast-track courts.

The Prime Minister asserted that the government would continue taking strong measures to safeguard students’ interests and maintain transparency in the examination system.

“Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared,” Modi said, reiterating the government’s commitment to taking strict action against those responsible for paper leaks.

The announcement comes in the backdrop of massive student protests in New Delhi.

New Delhi, Jul 23: Sixteen Delhi Metro stations, including Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat, Mandi House, ITO and Khan Market, were closed on Thursday morning till further instructions due to security reasons, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said.

The development comes as the crowd swelled at the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar.

However, interchange facility shall remain available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat metro stations.

“Lok Kalyan Marg, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Barakhamba Road, Supreme Court, Seva Teerth, Janpath, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, ITO, Delhi Gate, Indraprastha, Khan Market, Jor Bagh and Shivaji Stadium metro stations have been closed till further instructions,” the DMRC said in a post on X.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Wednesday said he would end his indefinite hunger strike if the Centre gives an unequivocal assurance that no punitive or retaliatory action would be taken against students and youth who participated in the protest against alleged examination irregularities.

He also said that Union ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh had already assured him that the government would positively consider his two other key demands.

In a letter addressed to the two ministers, Wangchuk said that Nadda and Singh, who visited him at the Medanta Hospital on Tuesday night, assured him that the government would positively consider providing adequate compensation to the families of students who died by suicide following the NEET paper ‘leak’, and holding a meaningful discussion in Parliament to ensure accountability for exam ‘irregularities’, including considering the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

“Therefore, I respectfully request an unequivocal assurance from the government that none of the young protesters will face any punitive or retaliatory legal action for participating in this movement. Their only ‘offence’ has been to raise their voice for a fair and accountable education system,” Wangchuk wrote.

“If such an assurance is given, I shall end my fast with faith that the government has heard not only my appeal but also the aspirations of lakhs of young Indians. In the absence of such an assurance, I will be forced to continue my fast indefinitely,” he wrote.

Sharing the letter on X, Wangchuk said, “An appeal to the government regarding breaking my fast… Once the assurance from the government comes, I will also appeal to the peacefully protesting students to halt the movement for now and enter into dialogue with the government.”

Referring to the July 20 ‘Chalo Sansad’ march, Wangchuk said it “remained very peaceful despite the atrocities and disproportionate use of force by the police”.

“The entire nation and the world witnessed their patience and commitment to democratic protest. I sincerely hope that this faith in democratic institutions is not further undermined by any legal cases, harassment or vindictive action against those who participated,” he said.

Around 65 MPs from different political parties had written to him, while several met him personally and urged him to end his fast, Wangchuk said. “They have all urged me to end my fast, reminding me that I still have much work to do in the service of our nation. I agree with them. I want to live.

“I want to return to my students, to education, and to the work that has defined my life. But I cannot do so at the cost of the very young people for whom this movement began,” he said.

“The future of our democracy depends not on how it treats those who agree with it, but on how it treats its young citizens when they dare to speak with courage, hope and conviction,” he added.

Earlier on Wednesday, a delegation of opposition MPs, including Congress’ Vivek Tankha, CPI(M)’s John Brittas and TMC’s Sagarika Ghose, met Wangchuk at the Medanta Hospital and appealed to him to end his fast.

In a letter signed by the MPs from several opposition parties, they assured him that the issues of examination reforms and accountability in the education sector would be taken up in Parliament.

“The nation, especially its youth, needs your wisdom and guidance far more than your sacrifice… Just as the Union Territory of Ladakh needs Sonam Wangchuk, India needs you too – not in suffering, but in service,” the MPs told him, while also assuring that they would press the government against any coercive action against the peaceful protesters.

Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28 after joining the Cockroach Janta Party-led agitation demanding accountability over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, reforms in the education system and the resignation of Pradhan. He is currently admitted to the Medanta Hospital after being shifted from the Safdarjung Hospital following a Delhi High Court order.