SC judge flags delayed bail, shrinking dissent space, cites chicken biryani arrest
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Polity
Why in news
Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, speaking at a memorial lecture, highlighted the criminalisation of ordinary activities like eating chicken biryani on the Ganga, and expressed concern over delayed bail and restrictive conditions that shrink public space for dissent in India.
Background
Justice Bhuyan referred to a specific case where 14 Muslim men were arrested for consuming chicken biryani while breaking their Ramzan fast on a boat in the Ganga, and remained in jail for three months. He used this to illustrate broader issues in the criminal justice system.
Key facts
Justice Ujjal Bhuyan spoke at the Justice GP Singh 4th Memorial Lecture at NLIU Bhopal on July 26, 2026.
He cited the arrest of 14 Muslim men for eating chicken biryani on a boat in the Ganga during Ramzan; they spent 3 months in jail.
He stated, 'There is no law prohibiting consumption of chicken over the Ganga river.'
He said public space for expressing divergent opinion is shrinking in India.
He noted that courts often grant bail belatedly and impose restrictive conditions that discourage dissent.
He emphasised that debate and dissent are essential to democracy.
He called for critical examination of judicial decisions to improve the system.
Prelims pointers
- Justice Ujjal Bhuyan is a Supreme Court judge.
- National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal.
- Fundamental rights: Article 19(1)(a) (freedom of speech), Article 19(1)(b) (right to assemble peacefully).
- Bail provisions under CrPC (now BNSS).
Mains angles
- GS2 Polity: Role of judiciary in protecting fundamental rights; judicial delays and bail jurisprudence.
- GS2 Polity: Shrinking space for dissent and criminalisation of peaceful activities.
- GS2 Polity: Conditions of bail and their impact on right to protest.
- GS2 Polity: Need for judicial reforms to ensure timely relief.