Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has expressed concerns over the Indian government's vision of 'Viksit Bharat', a developed India by 2047, saying it cannot come at the cost of civil liberties and dignity.
Speaking at the Supreme Court Bar Association's conference in Bengaluru, Justice Bhuyan emphasized the need for more space for dissent and debate in a developed India, warning against the growing tendency to invoke criminal law in response to protests, student movements, and social media expression.
He cited the example of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, saying that arrest rates remain high while conviction rates are abysmally low, indicating overuse of the law.
Justice Bhuyan also highlighted the issue of atrocities against Dalits and caste-based discrimination, saying a developed India cannot tolerate entrenched social hierarchies.
He flagged the lack of women judges in India's higher judiciary and called for closer scrutiny of the Collegium system on gender diversity in appointments.
Justice Bhuyan emphasized the need for the judiciary to remain firmly anchored in its duty to safeguard rights and uphold the rule of law, neither acting as an 'eternal critic' nor a 'cheerleader' of the State.
