Right to peaceful protest is fundamental, needs no government permission

The right to peaceful protest is a fundamental constitutional guarantee that does not depend on seeking prior permission from the government. Asking authorities for approval to criticise the state effectively converts a core democratic right into a discretionary favour.

The Constitution does not impose such preconditions on the exercise of protest rights. When citizens must first obtain governmental clearance to voice dissent, the very nature of the right is undermined—it ceases to be a right and becomes a privilege granted at state discretion.

This principle underpins democratic governance. Free speech and peaceful assembly are not luxuries that can be rationed or delayed based on administrative convenience. They form the bedrock of a functioning democracy where accountability and public scrutiny of government actions remain possible.