Thread by @TripathiGee

@Vidhi_India annual lecture on Institutional Autonomy and Democratic Governance, as delivered by Justice Gautam Patel of Bombay HC, begins at IIC, New Delhi

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Justice Patel: We don't have conversations anymore, we have tirades and shouting matches. Quality of discourse in this country has gone down

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Justice Patel narrates the exemplary civility of constitutional assembly debates. Despite strong sentiments, the tone remained measured and debates were reasoned

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Institutions of democratic republic are completely ignored in the civil discourse today, Justice Patel

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Autonomy is not merely desirable, it's fundamental to the continuance of a democratic republic under a Constitution: Justice Patel

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Institutional autonomy doesn't mean complete absence of oversight. The reference is not to operational autonomy but to functional autonomy: Justice Patel

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Justice Patel says that providing little autonomy to educational institutions adversely affect the true purpose of education. It reduces education to a mere technique acquisition exercise

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Educational institutions, throughout history, has been spaces for dissent and independence of thought. This is why illeberal govts first target liberal educational institutions

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The entire functioning of the film certification board is rooted in subjectivity. CBFC can refuse to give certificate, but it can't ban a film: Justice Patel

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It's due to the subjectivity of the guidelines laid down for 'censor board', that the court has to step in and exercise the body's functions: Justice Patel

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We can no more control artistic expression, as we can't control the functioning of a human body. Art imitates life, after all : Justice Patel

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adjudication can't be done as per the palate of the ruling regime. That would be going away from the conditional mandate, the very essence of a fascist regime: Justice Patel

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cultural and art institutions should also be asked to function autonomously. Art is political, and all art is dissent: Justice Patel

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Art institute should be allowed to say that its art has value even if it's directly in opposition with the ideology of the government: Justice Patel

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RTI bodies should not be anything but completely autonomous.A govt committed to democracy and constitution has nothing to fear from from information or dissent: Justice Patel

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Ideas are bullet proof. Any govt that discourages dissent and autonomy of ideas, is not a liberal govt: Justice Patel

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RTE Act has completely destroyed the autonomy of educational institutions: Arvind Datar

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