NEW DELHI, March 13 -- Among the many freedoms enjoyed in a free society, personal freedom is the most important. The celebrated Master of the Rolls, Sir Alfred Denning, delivering the first of the Hamlyn Lecture Series explained how the courts in England approached the subject: "Whenever one of the King's judges takes his seat, there is one application which by long tradition has priority over all others. Counsel has but to say 'My Lord, I have an application which concerns the liberty of the subject', and forthwith the judge will put all matters aside and hear it. It may be an application for a writ of habeas corpus, or an application for bail, but whatever form it takes, it is heard first...."

"This simple instance of priority in poin...