ON DEMOCRACY DEBATE AND DISSENT D Y Chandrachud CHIEF JUSTICE OF INDIA

 

ON DEMOCRACY  DEBATE  AND DISSENT

D Y Chandrachud

CHIEF JUSTICE OF INDIA

 

The Chief Justice of India, D Y Chandrachud  says that a society that does not encourage its citizens to critically think, question powers that be and engage in non conformist democratic discourse will fail to progress because it will fail to create dissenters.

He elaborates, “Dissents emerge not from thin air but from a democratic culture of fierce debate. Abolition of slavery, annihilation of caste, emancipation of gender minorities and religious harmony were all once dissenting opinions.” “Social harmony in a democracy should not be achieved by flushing out dissent. In a democracy the majority will have its way, but the minority must have its say. A society is often known by its great dissenters because dissenters inform us of the location and direction of a democracy. The beauty of a democracy is the sense of moral status with which all citizens can participate in a country and the consensus in its decision making.”