Archive · 30 Aug 2026
Justice Bhuyan Says Student Questions Cannot Bring Punishment
Justice Ujjal Bhuyan spoke at a university graduation ceremony.
He said students should be free to ask difficult questions.
They should also be allowed to express opinions that differ from people in authority.
Punishing or threatening students for doing this is unconstitutional, he said.
Universities should help students think independently and examine established ideas.
Disagreements should be discussed through reason instead of hostility.
He said tolerance and dissent are important parts of democracy.
The Constitution protects the freedom to speak, think, and believe differently.
He also said legal professionals should protect liberty, equality, dignity, and justice.
Justice Ujjal Bhuyan said students must not be threatened with punishment for asking questions or expressing different views.
He called such threats unconstitutional and a misuse of power and office.
Bhuyan said universities should encourage free thought, debate, and examination of established positions.
He described tolerance and space for dissent as essential to constitutional democracy.
His remarks followed a withdrawn Bar Council of India directive linked to objections over a proposed Chief Justice Surya Kant appearance at a law university convocation.
- Who
- Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan addressed postgraduate students and graduates.
- What
- He said threatening students with punitive action for asking questions or expressing different views is unconstitutional and a misuse of power.
- When
- Sunday, August 30; the articles do not specify the year.
- Where
- The 13th convocation ceremony for postgraduate students of National Law University, Delhi, in New Delhi.
- Why
- He said universities must foster independent thought, reasoned disagreement, dissent, and respect for constitutional values.
- Speaker
- Justice Ujjal Bhuyan
- Event
- 13th convocation ceremony for postgraduate students
- Institution
- National Law University, Delhi
- Main position
- Students cannot be threatened with punitive action for asking questions or expressing different views.
- Constitutional principles
- Freedom to speak, think, and believe differently, along with liberty, equality, dignity, and justice.
- Related context
- A now-withdrawn Bar Council of India directive asked state bar councils not to enrol the graduating batch of NALSAR University of Law after a campaign opposing Chief Justice of India Surya Kant’s proposed participation in its convocation.
- Other reported development
- National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, cancelled its convocation after objections to the Chief Justice’s participation.
