Students Arrested for Protest, Biryani on Ganga Boat Denied Bail: Justice Ujjwal Bhuyan Justice Ujjwal Bhuyan of the Supreme Court of India has criticized the judiciary for its handling of cases involving free speech and protest, highlighting how students and activists are increasingly being arrested and denied bail for exercising their constitutional rights. In a recent address, Bhuyan argued that the legal system is failing to protect the fundamental right to dissent, with courts imposing overly restrictive conditions on bail that effectively silence critics. Bhuyan pointed to the arrest of students for peaceful protests, such as those on university campuses, where they are often detained for 30-40 days without bail. He emphasized that the right to protest and express dissent is a cornerstone of democracy, yet these individuals face severe consequences. "The judiciary is failing to uphold the basic freedoms of citizens," Bhuyan stated, warning that the current approach risks undermining the principles of a free society. A notable example cited by Bhuyan was the case of individuals who were denied bail for eating biryani on a boat in the Ganga River. He questioned the legal rationale behind such arrests, stating, "There is no law against eating chicken biryani on a boat in the Ganga. Why are these people being jailed for three months without bail?" Bhuyan argued that such cases exemplify the growing trend of treating legitimate activities as criminal offenses. The judge also criticized the strict bail conditions imposed in other cases, such as the arrest of a social media user who posted a Facebook comment criticizing a minister. While bail was granted, the court ordered the individual to surrender their passport and refrain from posting anything online.#supreme_court_of_india #bombay_high_court #justice_ujjwal_bhuyan #delhi_riots_case #keshav_bharti_case
