---
title: "‘Right to Question Is at the Heart of Democratic Citizenship’: Justice Ujjal Bhuyan"
english_title: "Justice Ujjal Bhuyan Says Students Cannot Be Punished for Questioning Authority"
publisher: "Truevision English News"
canonical_url: "https://english.truevisionnews.com/news/380439/justice-ujjal-bhuyan-students-right-to-question-democracy"
published_at: "2026-08-30T17:11:00+05:30"
category: "Big Story"
language: "en"
image: "https://cf.zdn.im/img/truevisionnews.com/0/image-uploads/6a9417c703406_justice-ujjal-bhuyan-students-right-to-question-democracy.jpg"
keywords: ["Justice Ujjal Bhuyan", "freedom of speech", "Indian Constitution", "freedom of thought", "student rights India"]
---

# ‘Right to Question Is at the Heart of Democratic Citizenship’: Justice Ujjal Bhuyan

> **Lead Summary:** New Delhi: Students cannot be threatened or subjected to disciplinary action merely because they express views that differ from those of people holding positions of authority, Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has said. He stressed that the freedom to question is a fundamental part of democratic citizenship and an essential expression of constitutional responsibility.

## Article Content

New Delhi: Students cannot be threatened or subjected to disciplinary action merely because they express views that differ from those of people holding positions of authority, Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has said. He stressed that the freedom to question is a fundamental part of democratic citizenship and an essential expression of constitutional responsibility.

Justice Bhuyan made the remarks while addressing the convocation ceremony of the National Law University, Delhi, where he spoke to students receiving their LLM degrees. He emphasised the importance of protecting dissent and encouraging young people to question decisions, institutions and those in positions of power.

> “In a democracy, the right to question is not an act of defiance,” Justice Bhuyan said. According to him, the ability to ask questions and express disagreement represents the values of citizenship, liberty and constitutional accountability.

He said students should not be intimidated simply because they raise questions or hold opinions that differ from those of authorities. Using disciplinary proceedings as a means to silence or frighten students, he cautioned, would amount to an unconstitutional exercise of power and an abuse of official position.

Justice Bhuyan also referred to India’s historical traditions of tolerance, describing the country as the land of Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi. He said there should be no place for an intolerant mindset in a country whose constitutional framework protects freedom of speech, thought and belief.

He warned that democratic institutions begin to weaken when disagreement is no longer treated as legitimate difference of opinion and is instead viewed as something that must be suppressed, rejected or punished.

According to Justice Bhuyan, the ability to live with differences and disagreements is more than simply a desirable social quality. It is a fundamental requirement for sustaining a broad and inclusive constitutional democracy.

His remarks underline the importance of creating educational institutions where students can express dissent, ask difficult questions and engage in debate without fear of retaliation. Justice Bhuyan's comments also highlight the responsibility of those in authority to respect constitutional freedoms and ensure that disagreement is not treated as misconduct merely because it challenges established views.

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