Dissent is the cornerstone of democracy, says legal scholar
Legal scholar G. Mohan Gopal emphasized that dissent is a fundamental cornerstone of democracy during a seminar organized by the All India Lawyers' Union. He argued that the suppression of dissenting voices threatens institutional integrity and democratic foundations.
Why it matters
The discourse on the right to dissent is critical for maintaining civil liberties and democratic health in the face of perceived authoritarian trends.
Calling differences in thinking on an issue a “biological reality”, G. Mohan Gopal, founder-chairman of the National Court Management Systems Committee of the Supreme Court of India, said protests originated in dissent, which was a cornerstone of democracy and a free society.
Addressing a seminar on the “Right to Dissent and the Constitution of India” organised by the All India Lawyers’ Union (AILU) State Committee here on Saturday, Mr. Mohan Gopal said there had been brazen attacks on the “channels of dissent” provided under Article 19(1) of the Constitution because of growing authoritarianism.
He said the recent agitation at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi by “cockroaches” was a result of the suppression of dissenting voices and sent a clear signal that the youth would no longer silently endure such attacks.
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