Right to free expression is hallmark of democracy – Former CJI UU Lalit
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New Delhi (Team Newsbuddy): Former CJI UU Lalit said that the right to free expression is the hallmark of democracy.
Former Chief Justice of India UU Lalit said in the Soli J. Sorabjee Memorial Lecture organized by Jindal Global Law School of OP Jindal Global University, “The right to dissent is the hallmark of democracy. The right to free expression is the hallmark of democracy and eminent jurist and former Attorney General of India Soli J. Sorabjee was a staunch supporter of this right.”
Justice Lalit spoke about his personal relationship with Sorabjee, his deep understanding of the Constitution and laws of the country through public judgments and writings. As a human being, he had a great interest in music to poetry, literature to geography and was an eclectic reader. But he was committed to upholding the principles of law.
His most important work has been in the area of freedom of expression. It is important to note that some of his arguments and cases were from the period when the Emergency was imposed!
He recalled the importance of research and preparation for Soli J. Sorabjee, who ensured that his team members followed due process and maintained his faith in the rule of law. His writings on the right to dissent and the protection of freedom of expression were based on the very foundations of democracy in Greece. The core of the democratic system in Greece was that every citizen should participate in every sphere of life, express his concerns and perform his duties. Every citizen was expected to express his views and articulate them in society. If there is even one dissenting voice in society, even if you do not agree with it, that voice has the right to be heard and this is the foundation of the right to free expression.”
The recipient of the 2024 Soli J. Sorabjee Endowment Award and Scholarship was also announced on this occasion. The award and scholarship are given annually to a deserving student in the field of human rights law and theory, offered as part of the graduate programs at Jindal Global Law School. This year the award was given to Khushi Doshi of Jindal Global Law School.
