Liberty cannot be bartered: Ex- CJI

New Delhi, Dec. 8: Former chief justice of India Dipak Misra on Saturday said liberty is a “permanent value” which cannot be “bartered” and any dilution of civil liberties will lead to disorder and anarchy.

“Life without liberty is meaningless... Life and liberty must welcome dissent, discord, disagreement. Without them life is a rose without fragrance,” Justice Misra, who had presided over benches which delivered key verdicts related to fundamental rights like liberty, sexual autonomy and dignity, said at the Jagran Forum organised here on the 75th anniversary of the Dainik Jagran.

Quoting former US president Thomas Jefferson, Justice Misra said, “When the government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, it is tyranny.”

The former CJI referred to recent judgments by Constitution benches of the apex court on issues like decriminalising consensual gay sex and allowing women of all age groups into Kerala’s Sabarimala temple.