Dehradun to Host Consultation on Constitutional Governance, Democratic Rights and Institutional Independence

Salman Khurshid, Gurdeep Sappal, Apoorvanand and Other Prominent Speakers to Participate in Key Consultation Meeting

Dehradun, August 22: Amid growing public debate over the functioning of constitutional institutions, democratic rights and civil liberties in the country, a significant consultation meeting on “Constitutional Governance, Democratic Rights and the Way Forward” is scheduled to be held in Dehradun on August 23.

The consultation meeting will take place at 11:30 AM at Hotel Doon Pride, Prince Chowk, Dehradun, bringing together prominent lawyers, academics, human rights activists and public figures to discuss constitutional governance, democratic rights and issues concerning citizens’ freedoms.

According to the organisers, questions have been raised in recent times regarding the role and functioning of institutions including the Election Commission, the Executive, the police and various investigative agencies, particularly with regard to their independence and impartiality.

The consultation aims to examine these concerns from a constitutional and democratic perspective and explore peaceful and democratic ways forward.

Uttarakhand Issues to Be Discussed

Several important and sensitive issues concerning Uttarakhand are also expected to remain at the centre of the discussion.

These include bulldozer actions, hate crimes, alleged disrespect towards religious places, SIR, evictions, and issues related to “Jal, Jungle and Zameen” — water, forests and land.

The organisers emphasise the need to address such issues through constitutional values, democratic rights and peaceful dialogue rather than confrontation or unconstitutional means.

Prominent Speakers to Attend

According to Shadab Alam, the consultation will feature several distinguished speakers, including former Union Minister and Supreme Court advocate Salman Khurshid; Congress leader and former Director General of Rajya Sabha Television Gurdeep Sappal; Delhi University Professor Apoorvanand; former Rajya Sabha MP Mohammad Adeeb; human rights activist Nadeem Khan; and Supreme Court advocate Fuzail Ahmad Ayyubi.

The meeting is being organised by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), Uttarakhand.

Focus on Constitutional and Peaceful Solutions

At a time when the role of constitutional institutions, civil liberties and governance continues to generate debate across different sections of society, the Dehradun consultation is expected to provide a platform for dialogue on some of the country’s pressing democratic and constitutional concerns.

The meeting will also seek to explore how existing challenges can be addressed through peaceful, democratic and constitutional means while protecting constitutional rights and democratic values.

The consultation is scheduled for Sunday, August 23, 2026, at 11:30 AM at Hotel Doon Pride, Prince Chowk, Dehradun.