India, Jan. 19 -- If there are two sets of cases that have tested the Indian judiciary's commitment to personal liberty in recent years, it is the 2018 Bhima Koregaon and the 2020 Delhi riots cases. In both instances, a number of activists were incarcerated on very serious charges under draconian laws, with the protracted delay on proceeding towards trial raising questions about the prosecution's strategy and triggering the demand for bail. But the judiciary has appeared hesitant in granting bail on account of delay in the politically sensitive cases, the latest example being the Supreme Court refusing relief to student activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam earlier this month.

Now, former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has said ...