Citizens Are Not Slaves of the Govt; Police Must Serve the Constitution, Not Political Masters

The Bombay High Court’s decision to quash the Maharashtra Government’s externment order against SDPI Maharashtra State General Secretary Saeed Ahmad Abdul Wahid Chaudhari is a historic victory for the Constitution and democratic rights. The arbitrary order sought to ban him from entering Mumbai for one year merely because of his active role in democratic protests on vital public issues, including the anti-CAA movement and the Gyanvapi Masjid issue.

The Court unequivocally held that peaceful protests and raising slogans against government policies are protected under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution. Justice Madhav Jamdar’s observation that citizens are not “slaves of the Government of India” and that police officers are public servants, not servants of the Prime Minister or the Chief Minister, is a powerful reminder to those misusing state power.

We welcome this landmark judgment and demand an end to the harassment of political activists exercising their constitutional right to dissent.

Adv. Azhar Tamboli
State President
Social Democratic Party of India Maharashtra