Citizen vs State vs Liberty P Chidambaram on May 8, 2022 https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/citizen-vs-state-vs-liberty-7905914/
A Nation Waits
There are several cases pending in the Supreme Court of India touching upon liberty. Among them are:
- the demonetization case: can the State demonetise 86 per cent of the currency, without notice, depriving millions of people of food and medicines for several days?
- the electoral bond case: can the State make a law that provides for anonymous and unlimited donations to political parties by corporates (including loss-making companies) and ingeniously connects crony capitalism, corruption and contributions to the ruling party?
- the Lockdown: can the State impose a total lockdown without notice to the people and render millions without a home, food, water, medicine, money and means of travel to their permanent places of residence?
- Repeal of Article 370 of the Constitution: can the State dismember a state that had joined the Union under an Instrument of Accession into two sub-state units without obtaining the consent of the people or of the legislature of the state?
- Sedition: can the State slap charges of sedition under Section 124A of the IPC on any one who opposes or mocks the State’s actions?
- Encounters & Bulldozers: can the State employ methods like encounters and demolitions to quell dissent or protests by the people?There is a deliberate and determined attempt to strike at the very foundations of the Indian State. There is a stealthy attempt to deprive the people of their liberty and inalienable rights by chipping at the margins. In the World Press Freedom Index 2022, India has slipped to 150 among 180 countries. Vigilant citizens have knocked on the doors of the Supreme Court, the self-described sentinel on the qui vive.