Justice Bhuyan Warns of Authoritarianism When Society Fears Questions

At a convocation ceremony of the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya, Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan cautioned that authoritarianism takes root when people fear questioning. He urged citizens to move beyond a binary ‘us’ versus ‘they’ mindset and embrace the constitutional ethos of ‘we’ to safeguard India’s unity in diversity.

Justice Bhuyan highlighted Article 51A, which obliges every citizen to develop a scientific temperament. He explained that this duty is not merely about acquiring knowledge but about cultivating reason, inquiry, and the willingness to reform unjust practices. He argued that a society that accepts claims without evidence is vulnerable to misinformation and superstitious beliefs.

The judge stressed the importance of debate, noting that questioning must be paired with openness to alternative viewpoints. He said that meaningful, healthy debate can only thrive when people have access to reliable information.

Drawing on Amartya Sen’s *The Idea of Justice*, Bhuyan distinguished between institutional democracy and functional democracy, asserting that the latter requires public scrutiny and reasoning as part of due process.

He concluded that preserving diversity means rejecting false narratives and the ‘us‑vs‑them’ divide. He reminded listeners that the Constitution’s preamble begins with “We, the People of India,” underscoring that individual and group identities should not dilute the shared constitutional unity.

The remarks were delivered on Saturday, 28 March 2024, amid ongoing criticism of the NDA government’s perceived authoritarian tendencies by opposition parties.