Model Answer

Public protest is an essential feature of a constitutional democracy, enabling citizens to articulate grievances beyond electoral politics. Hunger strikes, inspired by Gandhian Satyagraha, represent a unique form of non-violent moral persuasion, but their growing use also raises questions about democratic accountability and constitutional governance.

Role in strengthening democratic accountability

1. Acts as a democratic safety valve by providing citizens a peaceful means to express dissent. e.g.: Right to protest recognised under Article 19.
2. Enhances government accountability by compelling authorities to respond to public grievances. e.g.: India Against Corruption movement (2011) leading to the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act.
3. Amplifies marginalised voices often overlooked in formal political processes. e.g.: Farmers' protests and ongoing Ladakh protests demanding constitutional safeguards.
4. Strengthens participatory democracy through public engagement beyond periodic elections. e.g.: Anti-CAA protests and environmental movements.
5. Creates moral legitimacy through non-violent resistance. e.g.: Gandhi's fasts during the freedom struggle; recent hunger strikes by Sonam Wangchuk highlighting examination reforms.

Constitutional and ethical challenges

1. Rights are subject to reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2) and 19(3) in the interests of public order.
2. Prolonged protests may disrupt essential services, affecting the rights of non-participants. e.g.: Road blockades during mass agitations.
3. Hunger strikes can create moral pressure that may bypass institutional deliberation and representative decision-making.
4. Risk of politicisation when protests become instruments of partisan mobilisation rather than genuine public participation.
5. Public health and law-and-order concerns arise during indefinite fasts, requiring the State to balance individual autonomy with its duty to protect life. e.g.: Judicial intervention in cases involving prolonged hunger strikes.

Way Forward

1. Institutionalise structured dialogue between governments and protest groups through independent mediation mechanisms.
2. Ensure proportional policing consistent with constitutional freedoms and Supreme Court jurisprudence on peaceful assembly.
3. Promote Gandhian principles of Satyagraha while strengthening institutional grievance redressal to reduce the need for prolonged confrontational protests.

Protests and hunger strikes remain indispensable instruments of democratic participation, provided they operate within constitutional boundaries. A mature democracy must protect peaceful dissent while ensuring that constitutional institutions, rather than street mobilisation alone, remain the primary forum for public decision-making.