Can students be punished for protesting? Here's what the Constitution says

The Indian Constitution does not guarantee a right to protest, but it is derived from Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(b) on freedom of speech and peaceful assembly.

These rights are subject to limitations under Articles 19(2) and 19(3) for sovereignty, public order, and security.

Students can be prosecuted if a protest turns violent, damages property, obstructs services, or defies police orders.

Authorities may use provisions of the Bharat Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to stop protests that risk public disorder.

The Supreme Court, in cases like Ramlila Maidan Incident v. Home Secretary (2012), held that authorities must act with legality, necessity, and proportionality, using force only as a last resort.