Guwahati: Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has raised concerns over bail conditions restricting student activists from posting online or attending public meetings, questioning whether such restrictions undermine their right to liberty and participation in public life.
“People would be justified in asking whether, by passing such orders or by imposing such conditions, is the Court also sending a message that they don’t participate in such public activities?” Justice Bhuyan asked.
The remarks came in the context of the wider debate over the limits of bail conditions and the extent to which courts can restrict the activities of an accused person who has been granted bail.
While bail conditions may be imposed to ensure that an accused does not interfere with an investigation, influence witnesses or obstruct the judicial process, Justice Bhuyan’s remarks highlighted concerns over restrictions that prevent individuals from participating in public activities.
Restrictions on attending meetings or posting online can have a particular impact on student activists, whose work often involves public meetings, campaigns, protests and social media engagement.
The observations come amid continued scrutiny of bail conditions imposed in cases involving student activists and individuals associated with protests and political activities.