Justice Bhuyan Warns Society Vulnerable to Authoritarianism Without Scientific Temper
· India · The Hindu, Times of India
Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan said a society that accepts unverified claims and fears questions becomes vulnerable to misinformation and authoritarianism. Speaking at the University of Science and Technology in Meghalaya on October 31, 2026, he stressed that scientific temper under Article 51A must extend beyond laboratories to the rational thinking of students and youth. Justice Bhuyan urged a shift from divisive 'us versus they' narratives to the Constitution's 'we' of the Preamble. His remarks follow widespread student unrest over NEET 2026 paper leaks and protests at institutions including IIT Bombay and National Law Schools. The judge said students must develop inquiry habits to see through misinformation and avoid accepting the first explanation offered. He warned that without empirical evidence in public discourse, society fails to reform unjust practices.
Why it matters
Justice Bhuyan's warning directly addresses the crisis of critical thinking among India's youth amid campus unrest, linking constitutional duty to democratic resilience.
Read the original report — The Hindu
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