Rule of law vs rule by force

The principal characteristic of the Indian Constitution is the rule of law it mandates, This foundational principle envisions that the law, established under the constitutional framework, holds primacy over all other considerations—be they individual, ideological, or political.

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It is the bedrock that ensures we are a nation governed by laws, not by men. This ideal, however, has faced a starkly modern challenge: the rise of ‘bulldozer justice’ In states like Uttar Pradesh, governments have employed strong-arm methods, using machinery to raze homes and properties of individuals deemed suspects, bypassing the judicial process entirely. This practice conflates accusation with guilt and allows the executive to act as judge, jury, and executioner. It creates a dangerous precedent where the government of the day believes it can operate outside the sanctity of established legal procedure. What began as a political theatre of “instant justice” has now become an instrument of fear and selective punishment, often targeting minorities or dissenters.