Guwahati: Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has said students cannot be threatened or subjected to punitive action merely for expressing views that differ from those in positions of authority, stressing that the right to question is central to a democratic society.
Addressing the 13th convocation of National Law University, Delhi, on Saturday, Justice Bhuyan said questioning authority should not be treated as an act of defiance. He emphasised that universities must provide an environment where students can express different opinions, challenge established positions and engage in difficult discussions.
Justice Bhuyan said treating dissent as something that warrants punishment would amount to a misuse of power and would be inconsistent with constitutional principles. He stressed that the Constitution does not demand uniformity of thought but provides a framework for people with different beliefs and convictions to participate in democratic life with equal dignity.
He also described intolerance as being fundamentally at odds with the spirit of the Constitution, saying disagreement and dissent should not become grounds for silencing individuals.
According to Justice Bhuyan, universities have a particularly important role in nurturing a culture of liberty and tolerance. He said institutions of higher learning should be places where students develop the habit of thinking independently rather than accepting ideas simply because they are familiar or widely accepted.
His remarks came amid recent controversies at law universities over students expressing objections to the participation of senior judicial and legal officials at convocation ceremonies.
At Hyderabad’s NALSAR University of Law, students objected to the proposed participation of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant at the convocation over his remarks concerning student protests. The controversy escalated after the Bar Council of India initially directed state bar councils not to enrol graduates of the 2026 batch pending an inquiry, before withdrawing the communication following criticism. The Supreme Court subsequently directed that no punitive action be taken against the students or faculty.
The issue later reached the National Law School of India University in Bengaluru, where the 2026 convocation was cancelled, with the institution citing “unavoidable circumstances”. The graduating students were subsequently informed that their degrees would be awarded in absentia.
Justice Bhuyan also underlined the broader responsibility of universities, legal professionals and academics in protecting constitutional values such as liberty, equality, dignity and justice.
He said legal education should not be limited to understanding what the law says, but should also involve examining the values that give law its legitimacy. He further described academia and the judiciary as complementary institutions, with universities contributing research and critical analysis that can strengthen the justice system.