Democracy cannot survive sans justice, accountability

Courts that delay bail without reason harm people like Khalid, Fatima and Imam, just as the ECI’s secrecy undermines fair elections

- SAYANTAN GHOSH

In India, democracy rests on two key principles: justice and accountability.

Justice ensures fairness for all, as promised in the Constitution, while accountability holds powerful institutions—like courts and the Election Commission—answerable for their actions. These principles are deeply connected—without accountability, justice becomes uneven; without justice, accountability lacks meaning. When these systems fail, as seen in prolonged detentions and questionable electoral practices, public trust in democracy weakens, leaving citizens vulnerable. Take the case of the 2020 northeast Delhi riots, which killed 53 people and injured hundreds. Activists like Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), have spent over five years in jail without trials starting.

Khalid, a former student leader, was denied bail in September 2025 by the Delhi High Court, which cited his speeches and WhatsApp group links as evidence of a “conspiracy” to spark violence. Similarly, Imam's bail was rejected for his protest speeches, despite no direct link to the riots. Others, like Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, and Abdul Khalid Saifi, face the same fate, with courts pointing to “serious allegations” without testing evidence. The Supreme Court has said long delays—like five years with only a few witnesses examined—justify bail, yet these rulings are ignored.