The Supreme Court's selective quashing of Jantar Mantar protest FIRs — while permitting fresh FIRs against 2,873 individuals — constitutes a disproportionate restriction on the constitutional right to peaceful assembly under Article 19(1)(b).
Aaj ka motion yeh hai: 'Mass Quashing of Protest FIRs Violates the Right to Peaceful Assembly' — kya ek saath, bulk mein, protest se judi FIRs ko quash karna naagarikon ke shantipurna assembly ke adhikar ka ullanghana hai? Yeh ek gehri constitutional aur legal awareness ki bahas hai, aur main chahti hoon ki dono paksh is sawaal ko poori gambhirata se uthaayen. Toh Counsel Aarav, aap pehle apna paksh rakhiye.
My lord, main yeh opening dalil deta hoon ki mass quashing of protest FIRs — yaani ek saath, bina individual scrutiny ke, bahut saari FIRs ko khatam karna — Article 19(1)(b) ke tahat guaranteed peaceful assembly ke adhikar ka seedha ullanghan hai. Jab state khud FIRs file karke assembly ko criminalize karta hai, aur phir unn FIRs ko mass mein quash karta hai, to woh ek tarf to court ki power ko bypass karta hai aur doosri tarf yeh signal deta hai ki assembly pehle 'illegal' thi — jo ki ek chilling effect create karta hai future protesters par. Article 32 ke tahat is Court ka dayitva hai ki woh ensure kare ki fundamental rights ka enforcement individual dignity ke saath ho, na ki executive convenience ke saath.
Ref: Constitution of India · Article 19; Constitution of India · Article 32
My Lord, with due respect, main is motion ko poori tarah se challenge karti hoon — kyunki quashing of protest FIRs koi 'right to assembly' ka samarthan nahi, balki ek systemic abuse of judicial process hai jo actual victims aur public order dono ko nuksan pahunchata hai. Article 19(1)(b) ke tahat assembly ki azadi sirf PEACEFUL aur unarmed assembly ko protect karti hai — aur jo FIRs mass protests mein darj hoti hain, unme aksar force, insult, ya breach of peace ke elements hote hain jo is protection ke bahar aate hain. Paksh yeh concede karna bhool raha hai ki Article 19(2) reasonable restrictions ki ijazat deta hai, aur courts ka kaam hai individual FIR ki merit dekh kar faisla karna — bulk quashing ek blanket shield ban jaata hai jo due process ko hi undermine karta hai.
Ref: Constitution of India · Article 19
My lord, vipaksh ka kehna hai ki FIRs quash karna assembly ke adhikar ka ullanghan hai — lekin main is logic ko seedha palat deta hoon: Article 19(1)(b) ke tahat peaceful assembly ka adhikar GUARANTEED hai, lekin Article 19(3) clearly kehta hai ki sirf 'reasonable restrictions' hi valid hain — aur jo FIRs bina kisi public disorder ke, sirf peaceful protesters par daayar ki gayi hon, wo reasonable restriction nahi, wo STATE EXCESS hai. My lord, aise FIRs ka quashing is adhikar ka ullanghan nahi — balki uski RAKSHA hai, kyunki judiciary ka kaam hai ki woh state ki unwarranted penal power ko rok sake. Vipaksh core baat hi ulti bol raha hai — quashing ka matlab impunity nahi, balki yeh ensure karna hai ki Article 19 sirf kaagaz par na rahe.
Ref: Constitution of India · Article 19
My Lord, paksh ki yeh dalil ki FIRs ka bulk quashing protesters ke liye relief hai — main isse seedha chunauti deti hoon. Article 19(1)(b) ke tahat assembly ka adhikar reasonable restrictions ke SAATH aata hai — Article 19(3) spasht kehta hai ki public order ki raksha ke liye restrictions lagaaye ja sakte hain; bulk quashing in restrictions ko blindly hataana hai bina individual merit dekhein. Har FIR ka apna factual aadhar hota hai, aur unhe ek saath quash karna judicial scrutiny ki jagah judicial bypass hai — yeh Article 19 ka celebration nahi, balki uski process ka mazaak hai.
Ref: Constitution of India · Article 19
Prosecution side ka kehna hai ki mass quashing se un nagarikon ka haq maara jaata hai jo shantipurna tarike se apni awaaz uthate hain, jabki defence side ka tark hai ki yeh FIRs hi mool roop mein galat irade se darj ki gayi thin aur quashing ek zaroori rahat hai. Meri balanced legal suggestion yeh hai ki courts ko har FIR ka individual review karke decide karna chahiye — blanket quashing bhi nahi, aur blanket prosecution bhi nahi — taaki assembly ka haq bhi surakshit rahe aur genuine law-and-order concerns bhi address hon. Ab main citizens se nivedan karti hoon ki is debate ko rate karen aur apni raay saajha karen.