A public meeting was held on Thursday at the Press Club of India demanding the release of people’s lawyer Surendra Gadling, who has been imprisoned in the widely discussed Bhima Koregaon case. The meeting was organized by the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) and was attended by lawyers, journalists, and academics. Speakers described the case as a serious issue linked to democratic rights, civil liberties, and the independence of the judiciary.
Speaking at the meeting, advocate Jagdish Meshram said that Surendra Gadling has long fought legal battles for Adivasis and marginalized communities. He noted that Gadling stood up for people who often do not even have access to legal representation. Meshram also said that because of his work, Gadling had continuously faced threats from the police and state authorities.
Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan stated that stringent laws are increasingly being used against activists, lawyers, and intellectuals, which weakens democratic institutions and affects civil liberties. He added that the prolonged incarceration of individuals under harsh legal provisions is a matter of serious concern for the rule of law.
Legal scholar Gautam Bhatia referred to an article written by Gadling and Professor Hany Babu, discussing the legal aspects of bail under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). He said that the definition of “court” in the law is framed in such a way that the preliminary evaluation of police allegations during bail hearings is largely limited to the sessions court, thereby restricting the scope of review by the High Court and the Supreme Court.
He also mentioned Section 43D(5), explaining that the word “reasonable” used in the provision implies that courts should carefully evaluate the allegations rather than merely accepting them at face value.
Investigative journalist Saurav Das expressed concern over the functioning of the judiciary, saying that the Supreme Court increasingly appears to function like a “managerial court,” which in many cases seems to operate in coordination with the state. He also raised questions about the growing role of “fixers” within the judicial system and described it as a threat to the transparency of the justice system.
Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde said that the judiciary should act as a “brake” within the system rather than an “accelerator.” According to him, the role of courts is to restrain the excesses of state power. He also added that when history is written, members of the judiciary should be able to stand before the people with accountability and dignity.
Former president of the Delhi University Teachers’ Association, Nandita Narain, emphasized the need for public unity to protect constitutional rights and democratic freedoms. She appealed to teachers, students, and democratic organizations to raise their voices for the release of lawyers, activists, and intellectuals imprisoned under stringent laws.
At the end of the meeting, all the speakers collectively demanded the immediate release of Surendra Gadling and called upon citizens, civil society organizations, and democratic forces to unite against state repression and defend democratic rights.
