Ashwani Kumar is a senior lawyer at the Supreme Court and was once the Law Minister of India. He has written this piece as India enters its 80th year of freedom.
His main point is simple. India has done well in many areas — the economy is strong, science and defence have grown, the country now has a big role in world affairs. But when we look at the quality of our democracy, the picture is mixed.
He lists his worries. Centre and States are fighting more than they should. Members of Parliament change parties for personal gain. The Election Commission's fairness is being doubted. The Supreme Court has been slow in giving bail and slow in deciding cases. The way judges are picked — the collegium system — is being questioned. And the media, which should watch power, is now often serving power.
He ends by saying the fix is not just political. It has to start with ordinary citizens waking up. He points to the recent student protests at Jantar Mantar as a sign of hope — young people still care about justice.
The outer machine of democracy is working — elections happen, courts open, Parliament meets. The audit here is of the inner layer: what those institutions are actually delivering for an ordinary Indian.