Right to peaceful protest: Is it being strangled by ‘permission raj’?

The right to assemble peacefully is a fundamental right guaranteed to every citizen under the Constitution of India. But more often that not, this right has diminished into something that can only be exercised with permission from the police or the government The state can, and does, deny permission arbitrarily, and if the citizens go ahead anyway, it ends up giving a legal justification for repressive measures by the state. How did a fundamental right become conditional on permission from the state? What is the true legal and moral status of the right to peaceful dissent, and does it find reflection in the experience of Indians who wish to express their dissent? Guest: Pratik Patnaik, Delhi-based lawyer and policy commentator Host: G Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu Producer and editor: Jude Weston Camera: Shiksha Jural and Saif Ali Ekram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices