Guwahati, November 1: Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has said that scientific temper lays the foundation for the rule of law, because arbitrary power thrives on ignorance, fear and unexamined belief. He was delivering the address at the 12th convocation ceremony of the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) in Ri-Bhoi district on Saturday, Bar and Bench reported.

Source: Bar and Bench

"I believe, scientific temperament lays the foundation for the rule of law. This is because arbitrary power thrives on ignorance, fear and unexamined belief," Justice Bhuyan said, setting out what happens to a society that stops asking questions.

"A society that accepts claims without evidence is susceptible to superstitious beliefs and becomes vulnerable to mis-information. A society that fears questions becomes vulnerable to authoritarianism. A society that treats tradition as beyond scrutiny may fail to reform unjust practices," he said, in remarks also reported by LiveLaw.

Source: LiveLaw

A fundamental duty, not just a lab habit

Referring to Article 51A of the Constitution, which enjoins every citizen to develop scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform, Justice Bhuyan said one need not be a scientist to develop a scientific temper. Universities, he said, must nurture the capacity to think rationally and protect young minds from prejudice.

Justice Bhuyan also urged the graduating students to reject the binary of 'us' versus 'them' and to embrace the spirit of oneness in the Constitution, LiveLaw reported. News Desk Report's account of the same address likewise recorded his caution that a society that discourages questioning risks becoming vulnerable to authoritarianism, while one that treats traditions as beyond scrutiny may fail to reform unjust practices.

Source: News Desk Report