This is with reference to the editorial "Holding protest is a Constitutional right", October 12, 2026. Imagine if every protest came with a simple receipt: a public notice, filed online, stating the place, time and expected crowd, which the police must acknowledge within a day and can refuse only with written reasons that a court can review. That would end the guessing game of "permission" and give both sides clarity. Organisers could appoint volunteer marshals and share contact numbers, so that trouble is handled quickly and fairly. Officials, in turn, should be trained to see a crowd as a conversation, not a threat. A short public review after each major protest, noting what worked and what failed, would help both sides learn instead of blame. Dissent that is orderly and rules that are fair are not enemies. When both are visible, the street stays open and the peace stays safe. Democracy matures when its citizens can disagree loudly and its officials can listen calmly.
K CHIDANAND KUMAR, Bengaluru
