Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan raised concerns over the low conviction rate under UAPA, questioning prolonged detentions without chargesheets. He stressed that Viksit Bharat cannot be achieved without tolerance for dissent, judicial independence, and equality for Dalits.
Justice Ujjal Bhuyan of the Supreme Court recently spoke about the importance of tolerance, debate, and social equality while talking about the vision of a developed India or “Viksit Bharat” by 2047. He said that a truly developed country cannot be built unless people learn to accept different opinions and respect each other’s dignity.
He warned that political goals should never be used as a reason to treat people with different views as criminals. According to him, real development is not only about economic growth but also about equal distribution of wealth and removal of deep social inequalities like caste discrimination and violence against Dalits.
During his speech, Justice Bhuyan raised serious concerns about the use of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in recent years. He referred to data from 2019 to 2023 and pointed out that many people have been arrested under UAPA but the conviction rate is extremely low, around 5%. He said that such a low conviction rate raises serious questions about how the law is being used.
He clearly stated,
“With a conviction rate of 5% or less and acquittals exceeding 95% of UAPA cases, it raises questions about the validity of detaining individuals without a formal chargesheet,”
he noted.
He also said that because of such cases, the criminal justice system gets burdened and it affects the delivery of timely justice. He reminded that in criminal law, bail should be the rule and jail should be the exception, and this principle must be followed properly.
Justice Bhuyan also spoke about the role of the judiciary in a democracy. He said that the judiciary must always remain independent and should never be seen as working under political influence. According to him, if India wants to become a developed nation, then it must create a culture where debate is welcomed and people are free to express different opinions without fear.
He said,
“Debate should be encouraged, and tolerance for differing views must be a norm in society,”
he stated.
He also spoke about the vision of Viksit Bharat and said that while the political executive has set the target of 2047, the judiciary should focus on its own long-term goals and strengthening constitutional values. He suggested that instead of linking the judiciary to political slogans, it would be more meaningful to evaluate judicial progress by the year 2050 in terms of constitutional achievements and justice delivery.
Justice Bhuyan also referred to an important Supreme Court judgment from 1986, the Bijoe Emmanuel case, where the Supreme Court protected the rights of children belonging to the Jehovah’s Witnesses community who refused to sing the national anthem due to their religious beliefs.
He praised the courage of judges like Justice O. Chinnappa Reddy who stood for constitutional values and protected minority rights. He said that tolerance is not just a constitutional value but also part of Indian culture and tradition, and it must be followed in practice and not just in theory.
He further spoke strongly about caste discrimination and violence against Dalits. He said that India cannot become a developed country if such discrimination and humiliation continue in society. He made a powerful social observation and said that even today caste decides social status, dignity, and even food habits in many families, which is not acceptable in a modern and developed society.
He clearly stated,
“A model of development cannot exist while Dalits face humiliation and discrimination,”
he concluded.
He said that the idea of Viksit Bharat must include equality, dignity, and respect for every individual, otherwise true development will remain incomplete.
Justice Bhuyan’s speech is important because it connects development with constitutional values, social justice, and personal liberty. His remarks on misuse of UAPA, low conviction rates, judicial independence, and caste discrimination highlight some of the most serious issues in India’s legal and social system today.
His message was clear that economic progress alone cannot make India a developed country unless there is social equality, respect for dissent, protection of personal liberty, and dignity for every citizen.
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