3/9/2015 FundamentalrightsinIndiaWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_rights_in_India 1/14

FundamentalrightsinIndiaFromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

[1]

FundamentalrightsisacharterofrightscontainedintheConstitutionofIndia.ItguaranteescivillibertiessuchthatallIndianscanleadtheirlivesinpeaceandharmonyascitizensofIndia.Theseincludeindividualrightscommontomostliberaldemocracies,suchasequalitybeforelaw,freedomofspeechandexpression,andpeacefulassembly,freedomtopracticereligion,andtherighttoconstitutionalremediesfortheprotectionofcivilrightsbymeansofwritssuchashabeascorpus.ViolationoftheserightsresultinpunishmentsasprescribedintheIndianPenalCodeorotherspeciallaws,subjecttodiscretionofthejudiciary.TheFundamentalRightsaredefinedasbasichumanfreedomswhicheveryIndiancitizenhastherighttoenjoyforaproperandharmoniousdevelopmentofpersonality.Theserightsuniversallyapplytoallcitizens,irrespectiveofrace,placeofbirth,religion,casteorgender.Aliens(personswhoarenotcitizens)arealsoconsideredinmatterslikeequalitybeforelaw.Theyareenforceablebythecourts,subjecttocertainrestrictions.TheRightshavetheiroriginsinmanysources,includingEngland'sBillofRights,theUnitedStatesBillofRightsandFrance'sDeclarationoftheRightsofMan.

ThesevenfundamentalrightsrecognisedbytheIndianconstitutionare:[2]

1.Righttoequality:Whichincludesequalitybeforelaw,prohibitionofdiscriminationongroundsofreligion,race,caste,genderorplaceofbirth,andequalityofopportunityinmattersofemployment,abolitionofuntouchabilityandabolitionoftitles.2.Righttofreedom:Whichincludesspeechandexpression,assembly,associationorunionorcooperatives,movement,residence,andrighttopracticeanyprofessionoroccupation(someoftheserightsaresubjecttosecurityoftheState,friendlyrelationswithforeigncountries,publicorder,decencyormorality),righttolifeandliberty,righttoeducation,protectioninrespecttoconvictioninoffencesandprotectionagainstarrestanddetentionincertaincases.3.Rightagainstexploitation:Whichprohibitsallformsofforcedlabour,childlabourandtrafficofhumanbeings4.Righttofreedomofreligion:Whichincludesfreedomofconscienceandfreeprofession,practice,andpropagationofreligion,freedomtomanagereligiousaffairs,freedomfromcertaintaxesandfreedomfromreligiousinstructionsincertaineducationalinstitutes.5.CulturalandEducationalrights:Preservetherightofanysectionofcitizenstoconservetheirculture,languageorscript,andrightofminoritiestoestablishandadministereducationalinstitutionsoftheirchoice.6.Righttoconstitutionalremedies:WhichispresentforenforcementofFundamentalRights.7.Righttolife:Whichgivestherighttolivewithhumandignity.Thisincludesrightssuchasrighttoeducation,health,shelterandbasicamnestiesthatthestateshallprovide.

FundamentalrightsforIndianshavealsobeenaimedatoverturningtheinequalitiesofpreindependencesocialpractices.Specifically,theyhavealsobeenusedtoabolishuntouchabilityandthusprohibitdiscriminationonthegroundsofreligion,race,caste,sex,orplaceofbirth.Theyalsoforbidtraffickingofhumanbeingsandforcedlabour.Theyalsoprotectculturalandeducationalrightsofethnicandreligiousminoritiesbyallowingthemtopreservetheirlanguagesandalsoestablishandadministertheirowneducationinstitutions.

3/9/2015 FundamentalrightsinIndiaWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_rights_in_India 2/14

Contents

1Genesis2Significanceandcharacteristics3Righttoequality4Righttofreedom5Rightagainstexploitation6Righttofreedomofreligion7Righttolife8Culturalandeducationalrights9Righttoconstitutionalremedies10Criticalanalysis11Amendments

11.1Righttoproperty11.2Righttoeducation

12Seealso13References14Footnotes

Genesis

ThedevelopmentofconstitutionallyguaranteedfundamentalhumanrightsinIndiawasinspiredbyhistoricalexamplessuchasEngland'sBillofRights(1689),theUnitedStatesBillofRights(approvedon17September1787,finalratificationon15December1791)andFrance'sDeclarationoftheRightsofMan(createdduringtherevolutionof1789,andratifiedon26August1789).[3]UndertheeducationalsystemofBritishRaj,studentswereexposedtoideasofdemocracy,humanrightsandEuropeanpoliticalhistory.TheIndianstudentcommunityinEnglandwasfurtherinspiredbytheworkingsofparliamentarydemocracyandBritisherspoliticalparties.

In1919,theRowlattActgaveextensivepowerstotheBritishgovernmentandpolice,andallowedindefinitearrestanddetentionofindividuals,warrantlesssearchesandseizures,restrictionsonpublicgatherings,andintensivecensorshipofmediaandpublications.Thepublicoppositiontothisacteventuallyledtomasscampaignsofnonviolentcivildisobediencethroughoutthecountrydemandingguaranteedcivilfreedoms,andlimitationsongovernmentpower.Indians,whowereseekingindependenceandtheirowngovernment,wereparticularlyinfluencedbytheindependenceofIrelandandthedevelopmentoftheIrishconstitution.Also,thedirectiveprinciplesofstatepolicyinIrishconstitutionwerelookeduponbythepeopleofIndiaasaninspirationfortheindependentIndia'sgovernmenttocomprehensivelytacklecomplexsocialandeconomicchallengesacrossavast,diversenationandpopulation.

3/9/2015 FundamentalrightsinIndiaWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_rights_in_India 3/14

In1928,theNehruCommissioncomposingofrepresentativesofIndianpoliticalpartiesproposedconstitutionalreformsforIndiathatapartfromcallingfordominionstatusforIndiaandelectionsunderuniversalsuffrage,wouldguaranteerightsdeemedfundamental,representationforreligiousandethnicminorities,andlimitthepowersofthegovernment.In1931,theIndianNationalCongress(thelargestIndianpoliticalpartyofthetime)adoptedresolutionscommittingitselftothedefenceoffundamentalcivilrights,aswellassocioeconomicrightssuchastheminimumwageandtheabolitionofuntouchabilityandserfdom.[4]Committingthemselvestosocialismin1936,theCongressleaderstookexamplesfromtheconstitutionoftheerstwhileUSSR,whichinspiredthefundamentaldutiesofcitizensasameansofcollectivepatrioticresponsibilityfornationalinterestsandchallenges.

TaskofdevelopingaconstitutionforthenationwasundertakenbytheConstituentAssemblyofIndia,composingofelectedrepresentatives.ConstituentAssemblyfirstmetonDecember9,1946underthepresidencyofDr.SachidanandlaterDr.RajendraPrasadwasmadeitsPresident.WhilemembersofCongresscomposedofalargemajority,Congressleadersappointedpersonsfromdiversepoliticalbackgroundstoresponsibilitiesofdevelopingtheconstitutionandnationallaws.[5]Notably,BhimraoRamjiAmbedkarbecamethechairpersonofthedraftingcommittee,whileJawaharlalNehruandSardarVallabhbhaiPatelbecamechairpersonsofcommitteesandsubcommitteesresponsiblefordifferentsubjects.AnotabledevelopmentduringthatperiodhavingsignificanteffectontheIndianconstitutiontookplaceon10December1948whentheUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblyadoptedtheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRightsandcalleduponallmemberstatestoadopttheserightsintheirrespectiveconstitutions.

ThefundamentalrightswereincludedintheFirstDraftConstitution(February1948),theSecondDraftConstitution(17October1948)andfinalThirdDraftConstitution(26November1949),preparedbytheDraftingCommittee.

Significanceandcharacteristics

Thefundamentalrightswereincludedintheconstitutionbecausetheywereconsideredessentialforthedevelopmentofthepersonalityofeveryindividualandtopreservehumandignity.Thewritersoftheconstitutionregardeddemocracyofnoavailifcivilliberties,likefreedomofspeechandreligionwerenotrecognisedandprotectedbytheState.[6]Accordingtothem,"democracy"is,inessence,agovernmentbyopinionandtherefore,themeansofformulatingpublicopinionshouldbesecuredtothepeopleofademocraticnation.Forthispurpose,theconstitutionguaranteedtoallthecitizensofIndiathefreedomofspeechandexpressionandvariousotherfreedomsintheformofthefundamentalrights.[7]

Allpeople,irrespectiveofrace,religion,casteorsex,havebeengiventherighttomovetheSupremeCourtandtheHighCourtsfortheenforcementoftheirfundamentalrights.Itisnotnecessarythattheaggrievedpartyhastobetheonetodoso.Povertystrickenpeoplemaynothavethemeanstodosoandtherefore,inthepublicinterest,anyonecancommencelitigationinthecourtontheirbehalf.Thisisknownas"Publicinterestlitigation".[8]Insomecases,HighCourtjudgeshaveactedontheirownonthebasisofnewspaperreports.

Thesefundamentalrightshelpnotonlyinprotectionbutalsothepreventionofgrossviolationsofhumanrights.TheyemphasiseonthefundamentalunityofIndiabyguaranteeingtoallcitizenstheaccessanduseofthesamefacilities,irrespectiveofbackground.SomefundamentalrightsapplyforpersonsofanynationalitywhereasothersareavailableonlytothecitizensofIndia.Therighttolifeandpersonallibertyisavailabletoallpeopleandsoistherighttofreedomofreligion.Ontheotherhand,freedomsofspeechand

3/9/2015 FundamentalrightsinIndiaWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_rights_in_India 4/14

expressionandfreedomtoresideandsettleinanypartofthecountryarereservedtocitizensalone,includingnonresidentIndiancitizens.[9]TherighttoequalityinmattersofpublicemploymentcannotbeconferredtooverseascitizensofIndia.[10]

Fundamentalrightsprimarilyprotectindividualsfromanyarbitrarystateactions,butsomerightsareenforceableagainstindividuals.[11]Forinstance,theConstitutionabolishesuntouchabilityandalsoprohibitsbegar.Theseprovisionsactasacheckbothonstateactionaswellastheactionofprivateindividuals.However,theserightsarenotabsoluteoruncontrolledandaresubjecttoreasonablerestrictionsasnecessaryfortheprotectionofgeneralwelfare.Theycanalsobeselectivelycurtailed.TheSupremeCourthasruled[12]thatallprovisionsoftheConstitution,includingfundamentalrightscanbeamended.However,theParliamentcannotalterthebasicstructureoftheconstitution.Featuressuchassecularismanddemocracyfallunderthiscategory.Sincethefundamentalrightscanonlybealteredbyaconstitutionalamendment,theirinclusionisachecknotonlyontheexecutivebranch,butalsoontheParliamentandstatelegislatures.[13]

Astateofnationalemergencyhasanadverseeffectontheserights.Undersuchastate,therightsconferredbyArticle19(freedomsofspeech,assemblyandmovement,etc.)remainsuspended.Hence,insuchasituation,thelegislaturemaymakelawswhichgoagainsttherightsgiveninArticle19.Also,thePresidentmaybyordersuspendtherighttomovecourtfortheenforcementofotherrightsaswell.

Righttoequality

RighttoequalityisanimportantrightprovidedforinArticles14,15,16,17and18oftheconstitution.Itistheprincipalfoundationofallotherrightsandliberties,andguaranteesthefollowing:

Equalitybeforelaw:Article14oftheconstitutionguaranteesthatallpeopleshallbeequally

protectedbythelawsofthecountry.ItmeansthattheState[6]willtreatpeopleinthesamecircumstancesalike.Thisarticlealsomeansthatindividuals,whethercitizensofIndiaorotherwise

shallbetreateddifferentlyifthecircumstancesaredifferent.[14]

Socialequalityandequalaccesstopublicareas:Article15oftheconstitutionstatesthatnopersonshallbediscriminatedonthebasisofreligion,race,caste,sexorplaceofbirth.Everypersonshallhaveequalaccesstopublicplaceslikepublicparks,museums,wells,bathingghatsandtemplesetc.However,theStatemaymakeanyspecialprovisionforwomenandchildren.Specialprovisionsmaybemadefortheadvancementsofanysociallyoreducationallybackwardclassorscheduledcastesor

scheduledtribes.[15]

Equalityinmattersofpublicemployment:Article16oftheconstitutionlaysdownthattheStatecannotdiscriminateagainstanyoneinthemattersofemployment.Allcitizenscanapplyforgovernmentjobs.Therearesomeexceptions.TheParliamentmayenactalawstatingthatcertainjobscanonlybefilledbyapplicantswhoaredomiciledinthearea.Thismaybemeantforpoststhatrequireknowledgeofthelocalityandlanguageofthearea.TheStatemayalsoreservepostsfor

3/9/2015 FundamentalrightsinIndiaWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_rights_in_India 5/14

membersofbackwardclasses,scheduledcastesorscheduledtribeswhicharenotadequatelyrepresentedintheservicesundertheStatetobringuptheweakersectionsofthesociety.Also,therealawmaybepassedwhichrequiresthattheholderofanofficeofanyreligiousinstitutionshallalsobe

apersonprofessingthatparticularreligion.[16]AccordingtotheCitizenship(Amendment)Bill,2003,

thisrightshallnotbeconferredtoOverseascitizensofIndia.[10]

Abolitionofuntouchability:Article17oftheconstitutionabolishesthepracticeofuntouchability.

Practiceofuntouchabilityisanoffenceandanyonedoingsoispunishablebylaw.[17]TheUntouchabilityOffencesActof1955(renamedtoProtectionofCivilRightsActin1976)providedpenaltiesforpreventingapersonfromenteringaplaceofworshiporfromtakingwaterfromatankorwell.

AbolitionofTitles:Article18oftheconstitutionprohibitstheStatefromconferringanytitles.

CitizensofIndiacannotaccepttitlesfromaforeignState.[18]TheBritishgovernmenthadcreatedanaristocraticclassknownasRaiBahadursandKhanBahadursinIndiathesetitleswerealsoabolished.However,MilitaryandacademicdistinctionscanbeconferredonthecitizensofIndia.TheawardsofBharatRatnaandPadmaVibhushancannotbeusedbytherecipientasatitleanddonot,

accordingly,comewithintheconstitutionalprohibition".[19]TheSupremeCourt,on15December1995,upheldthevalidityofsuchawards.

Righttofreedom

TheConstitutionofIndiacontainstherighttofreedom,given[20]inarticles19,20,21,21Aand22,withtheviewofguaranteeingindividualrightsthatwereconsideredvitalbytheframersoftheconstitution.Itisaclusteroffourmainlaws.TherighttofreedominArticle19guaranteesthefollowingsixfreedoms:[21]

Freedomofspeechandexpression,onwhichtheStatecanimposereasonablerestrictionsintheinterestsofthesovereigntyandintegrityofIndia,thesecurityoftheState,friendlyrelationswithforeignStates,publicorder,decencyormoralityorinrelationtocontemptofcourt,defamationor

incitementtoanoffence.[22]

Freedomtoassemblepeacefullywithoutarms,onwhichtheStatecanimposereasonablerestrictionsintheinterestofpublicorderandthesovereigntyandintegrityofIndia.

FreedomtoformassociationsorunionsorcooperativesocietiesonwhichtheStatecanimposereasonablerestrictionsonthisfreedomintheinterestofpublicorder,moralityandthesovereigntyandintegrityofIndia.

FreedomtomovefreelythroughouttheterritoryofIndiathoughreasonablerestrictionscanbe

3/9/2015 FundamentalrightsinIndiaWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_rights_in_India 6/14

ChildlabourandBegarisprohibitedunderRightagainstexploitation.

imposedonthisrightintheinterestofthegeneralpublic,forexample,restrictionsmaybeimposedonmovementandtravelling,soastocontrolepidemics.

FreedomtoresideandsettleinanypartoftheterritoryofIndiawhichisalsosubjecttoreasonablerestrictionsbytheStateintheinterestofthegeneralpublicorfortheprotectionofthescheduledtribesbecausecertainsafeguardsasareenvisagedhereseemtobejustifiedtoprotectindigenousand

tribalpeoplesfromexploitationandcoercion.[23]Article370restrictscitizensfromotherIndianstatesandKashmiriwomenwhomarrymenfromotherstatesfrompurchasinglandorpropertyinJammu

&Kashmir.[24]

Freedomtopracticeanyprofessionortocarryonanyoccupation,tradeorbusinessonwhichtheStatemayimposereasonablerestrictionsintheinterestofthegeneralpublic.Thus,thereisnorighttocarryonabusinesswhichisdangerousorimmoral.Also,professionalortechnicalqualificationsmaybeprescribedforpractisinganyprofessionorcarryingonanytrade.

21A.Righttoelementaryeducation.TheStateshallprovidefreeandcompulsoryeducationtoallchildrenoftheageofsixtofourteenyearsinsuchmannerastheStatemay,bylaw,determine.

Theconstitutionalsoimposesrestrictionsontheserights.Thegovernmentrestrictsthesefreedomsintheinterestoftheindependence,sovereigntyandintegrityofIndia.Intheinterestofmoralityandpublicorder,thegovernmentcanalsoimposerestrictions.However,therighttolifeandpersonallibertycannotbesuspended.Thesixfreedomsarealsoautomaticallysuspendedorhaverestrictionsimposedonthemduringastateofemergency.

Rightagainstexploitation

Therightagainstexploitation,giveninArticles23and24,providesfortwoprovisions,namelytheabolitionoftraffickinginhumanbeingsandBegar(forcedlabour),[25]andabolitionofemploymentofchildrenbelowtheageof14yearsindangerousjobslikefactories,mines,etc.Childlabourisconsideredagrossviolationofthespiritandprovisionsoftheconstitution.[26]Begar,practisedinthepastbylandlords,hasbeendeclaredacrimeandispunishablebylaw.Traffickinginhumansforthepurposeofslavetradeorprostitutionisalsoprohibitedbylaw.Anexceptionismadeinemploymentwithoutpaymentforcompulsoryservicesforpublicpurposes.Compulsorymilitaryconscriptioniscoveredbythisprovision.[25]

Righttofreedomofreligion

3/9/2015 FundamentalrightsinIndiaWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_rights_in_India 7/14

Righttofreedomofreligion,coveredinArticles25,26,27and28,providesreligiousfreedomtoallcitizensofIndia.TheobjectiveofthisrightistosustaintheprincipleofsecularisminIndia.AccordingtotheConstitution,allreligionsareequalbeforetheStateandnoreligionshallbegivenpreferenceovertheother.Citizensarefreetopreach,practiceandpropagateanyreligionoftheirchoice.

Religiouscommunitiescansetupcharitableinstitutionsoftheirown.However,activitiesinsuchinstitutionswhicharenotreligiousareperformedaccordingtothelawslaiddownbythegovernment.Establishingacharitableinstitutioncanalsoberestrictedintheinterestofpublicorder,moralityandhealth.[27]Nopersonshallbecompelledtopaytaxesforthepromotionofaparticularreligion.[28]AStateruninstitutioncannotbeimparteducationthatisproreligion.[29]Also,nothinginthisarticleshallaffecttheoperationofanyexistinglaworpreventtheStatefrommakinganyfurtherlawregulatingorrestrictinganyeconomic,financial,politicalorothersecularactivitywhichmaybeassociatedwithreligiouspractice,orprovidingforsocialwelfareandreform.[30]

Righttolife

Theconstitutionguaranteestherighttolifeandpersonalliberty,whichinturncitesspecificprovisionsinwhichtheserightsareappliedandenforced:

Protectionwithrespecttoconvictionforoffencesisguaranteedintherighttolifeandpersonalliberty.AccordingtoArticle20,noonecanbeawardedpunishmentwhichismorethanwhatthelawofthelandprescribesatthattime.Thislegalaxiomisbasedontheprinciplethatnocriminallawcanbemaderetrospective,thatis,foranacttobecomeanoffence,theessentialconditionisthatitshouldhavebeenanoffencelegallyatthetimeofcommittingit.Moreover,nopersonaccusedofanyoffenceshallbecompelledtobeawitnessagainsthimself."Compulsion"inthisarticlereferstowhatinlawiscalled"Duress"(injury,beatingorunlawfulimprisonmenttomakeapersondosomethingthathedoesnotwanttodo).Thisarticleisknownasasafeguardagainstselfincrimination.Theotherprincipleenshrinedinthisarticleisknownastheprincipleofdoublejeopardy,thatis,nopersoncanbeconvictedtwiceforthesameoffence,whichhasbeenderivedfromAngloSaxonlaw.This

principlewasfirstestablishedintheMagnaCarta.[31]

Protectionoflifeandpersonallibertyisalsostatedunderrighttolifeandpersonalliberty.Article21

declaresthatnocitizencanbedeniedhislifeandlibertyexceptbylaw.[32]Thismeansthataperson'slifeandpersonallibertycanonlybedisputedifthatpersonhascommittedacrime.However,therighttolifedoesnotincludetherighttodie,andhence,suicideoranattemptthereof,isanoffence.(Attemptedsuicidebeinginterpretedasacrimehasseenmanydebates.TheSupremeCourtofIndiagavealandmarkrulingin1994.Thecourtrepealedsection309oftheIndianpenalcode,underwhich

peopleattemptingsuicidecouldfaceprosecutionandprisontermsofuptooneyear.[33]In1996

howeveranotherSupremeCourtrulingnullifiedtheearlierone.[34])"Personalliberty"includesallthefreedomswhicharenotincludedinArticle19(thatis,thesixfreedoms).Therighttotravelabroadis

3/9/2015 FundamentalrightsinIndiaWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_rights_in_India 8/14

TheFlagofIndia

alsocoveredunder"personalliberty"inArticle21.[35]

In2002,throughthe86thAmendmentAct,Article21(A)wasincorporated.Itmadetherighttoprimaryeducationpartoftherighttofreedom,statingthattheStatewouldprovidefreeand

compulsoryeducationtochildrenfromsixtofourteenyearsofage.[36]SixyearsafteranamendmentwasmadeintheIndianConstitution,theunioncabinetclearedtheRighttoEducationBillin2008.ItisnowsoontobetabledinParliamentforapprovalbeforeitmakesafundamentalrightofeverychild

togetfreeandcompulsoryeducation.[37]

Rightsofapersonarrestedunderordinarycircumstancesislaiddownintherighttolifeandpersonalliberty.Noonecanbearrestedwithoutbeingtoldthegroundsforhisarrest.Ifarrested,thepersonhastherighttodefendhimselfbyalawyerofhischoice.Alsoanarrestedcitizenhastobebroughtbeforethenearestmagistratewithin24hours.Therightsofapersonarrestedunderordinarycircumstancesarenotavailabletoanenemyalien.TheyarealsonotavailabletopersonsdetainedunderthePreventiveDetentionAct.Underpreventivedetention,thegovernmentcanimprisonapersonforamaximumofthreemonths.Itmeansthatifthegovernmentfeelsthatapersonbeingatlibertycanbeathreattothelawandorderortotheunityandintegrityofthenation,itcandetainorarrestthatpersontopreventhimfromdoingthispossibleharm.Afterthreemonthssuchacaseis

broughtbeforeanadvisoryboardforreview.[38]

Culturalandeducationalrights

AsIndiaisacountryofmanylanguages,religions,andcultures,theConstitutionprovidesspecialmeasures,inArticles29and30,toprotecttherightsoftheminorities.Anycommunitywhichhasalanguageandascriptofitsownhastherighttoconserveanddevelopit.NocitizencanbediscriminatedagainstforadmissioninStateorStateaidedinstitutions.[39]

Allminorities,religiousorlinguistic,cansetuptheirowneducationalinstitutionstopreserveanddeveloptheirownculture.Ingrantingaidtoinstitutions,theStatecannotdiscriminateagainstanyinstitutiononthebasisofthefactthatitisadministeredbyaminorityinstitution.[40]ButtherighttoadministerdoesnotmeanthattheStatecannotinterfereincaseofmaladministration.Inaprecedentsettingjudgementin1980,theSupremeCourtheldthattheStatecancertainlytakeregulatorymeasurestopromotetheefficiencyandexcellenceofeducationalstandards.Itcanalsoissueguidelinesforensuringthesecurityoftheservicesoftheteachersorotheremployeesoftheinstitution.Inanotherlandmarkjudgementdeliveredon31October2002,theSupremeCourtruledthatincaseofaidedminorityinstitutionsofferingprofessionalcourses,admissioncouldonlybethroughacommonentrancetestconductedbyStateorauniversity.Evenanunaidedminorityinstitutionoughtnottoignorethemeritofthestudentsforadmission.

3/9/2015 FundamentalrightsinIndiaWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_rights_in_India 9/14

Righttoconstitutionalremedies

Righttoconstitutionalremedies[Article32to35]empowersthecitizenstomoveacourtoflawincaseofanydenialofthefundamentalrights.Forinstance,incaseofimprisonment,thecitizencanaskthecourttoseeifitisaccordingtotheprovisionsofthelawofthecountry.Ifthecourtfindsthatitisnot,thepersonwillhavetobefreed.Thisprocedureofaskingthecourtstopreserveorsafeguardthecitizens'fundamentalrightscanbedoneinvariousways.Thecourtscanissuevariouskindsofwrits.Thesewritsarehabeascorpus,mandamus,prohibition,quowarrantoandcertiorari.Whenanationalorstateemergencyisdeclared,thisrightissuspendedbythecentralgovernment.[41]

Criticalanalysis

Thefundamentalrightshavebeenrevisedformanyreasons.Politicalgroupshavedemandedthattherighttowork,therighttoeconomicassistanceincaseofunemployment,oldage,andsimilarrightsbeenshrinedasconstitutionalguaranteestoaddressissuesofpovertyandeconomicinsecurity,[42]thoughtheseprovisionshavebeenenshrinedintheDirectivePrinciplesofstatepolicy.[43]Therighttofreedomandpersonallibertyhasanumberoflimitingclauses,andthushavebeencriticisedforfailingtocheckthesanctioningofpowersoftendeemed"excessive".[42]ThereisalsotheprovisionofpreventivedetentionandsuspensionoffundamentalrightsintimesofEmergency.TheprovisionsofactsliketheMaintenanceofInternalSecurityAct(MISA)andtheNationalSecurityAct(NSA)areameansofcounteringthefundamentalrights,becausetheysanctionexcessivepowerswiththeaimoffightinginternalandcrossborderterrorismandpoliticalviolence,withoutsafeguardsforcivilrights.[42]Thephrases"securityofState","publicorder"and"morality"areofwideimplication.PeopleofalternatesexualityarecriminalizedinIndiawithprisontermupto10years.Themeaningofphraseslike"reasonablerestrictions"and"theinterestofpublicorder"havenotbeenexplicitlystatedintheconstitution,andthisambiguityleadstounnecessarylitigation.[42]Thefreedomtoassemblepeaceablyandwithoutarmsisexercised,butinsomecases,thesemeetingsarebrokenupbythepolicethroughtheuseofnonfatalmethods.[44][45]

"Freedomofpress"hasnotbeenincludedintherighttofreedom,whichisnecessaryforformulatingpublicopinionandtomakefreedomofexpressionmorelegitimate.[42]Employmentofchildlabourinhazardousjobenvironmentshasbeenreduced,buttheiremploymenteveninnonhazardousjobs,includingtheirprevalentemploymentasdomestichelpviolatesthespiritandidealsoftheconstitution.Morethan16.5millionchildrenareemployedandworkinginIndia.[46]Indiawasranked88outof159in2005,accordingtothedegreetowhichcorruptionisperceivedtoexistamongpublicofficialsandpoliticiansworldwide.[47]TherighttoequalityinmattersregardingpublicemploymentshallnotbeconferredtooverseascitizensofIndia,accordingtotheCitizenship(Amendment)Bill,2003.[10]

AsperArticle19ofPart3oftheIndianconstitution,thefundamentalrightsofpeoplesuchasfreedomofspeechandexpression,gatheringpeaceablywithoutarmsandformingassociationsorunionsshallnoteffecttheinterestsofthesovereignty[48]andintegrityofIndiabutnotunityofIndia.Thewordssovereigntyandintegrityarethequalitiestobecultivated/emulatedbyIndianpeopleasurgedbytheIndianconstitutionbutnotusedrelatedtoterritoryofIndia.Article1ofPart1oftheIndianconstitution,definesIndia(Bharat)asunionofsovereignstates.Innutshell,Indiaisitspeoplenotitslandasenshrinedinitsconstitution.

3/9/2015 FundamentalrightsinIndiaWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_rights_in_India 10/14

Amendments

ChangestothefundamentalrightsrequireaconstitutionalamendmentwhichhastobepassedbyaspecialmajorityofbothhousesofParliament.Thismeansthatanamendmentrequirestheapprovaloftwothirdsofthememberspresentandvoting.However,thenumberofmembersvotingshouldnotbelessthanthesimplemajorityofthehousewhethertheLokSabhaorRajyaSabha.

TherighttoeducationatelementarylevelhasbeenmadeoneofthefundamentalrightsundertheEightySixthAmendmentof2002.[36]

Righttoproperty

TheConstitutionoriginallyprovidedfortherighttopropertyunderArticles19and31.Article19guaranteedtoallcitizenstherighttoacquire,holdanddisposeofproperty.Article31providedthat"nopersonshallbedeprivedofhispropertysavebyauthorityoflaw."Italsoprovidedthatcompensationwouldbepaidtoapersonwhosepropertyhasbeentakenforpublicpurposes.

Theprovisionsrelatingtotherighttopropertywerechangedanumberoftimes.TheFortyForthAmendmentof1978deletedtherighttoproperty(http://ccs.in/internship_papers/2002/25.pdf)fromthelistoffundamentalrights[49]Anewprovision,Article300A,wasaddedtotheconstitutionwhichprovidedthat"nopersonshallbedeprivedofhispropertysavebyauthorityoflaw".Thusifalegislaturemakesalawdeprivingapersonofhisproperty,therewouldbenoobligationonthepartoftheStatetopayanythingascompensation.TheaggrievedpersonshallhavenorighttomovethecourtunderArticle32.Thus,therighttopropertyisnolongerafundamentalright,thoughitisstillaconstitutionalright.Ifthegovernmentappearstohaveactedunfairly,theactioncanbechallengedinacourtoflawbycitizens.[42]

Theliberalisationoftheeconomyandthegovernment'sinitiativetosetupspecialeconomiczoneshasledtomanyprotestsbyfarmersandhaveledtocallsforthereinstatementofthefundamentalrighttoprivateproperty.[50]TheSupremeCourthassentanoticetothegovernmentquestioningwhytherightshouldnotbebroughtbackbutin2010thecourtrejectedthePIL[51]

Righttoeducation

Article21AOn2April2010,Indiajoinedagroupoffewcountriesintheworld,withahistoriclawmakingeducationafundamentalrightofeverychildcomingintoforce.[52]Makingelementaryeducationanentitlementforchildreninthe614agegroup,theRightofChildrentoFreeandCompulsoryEducationActwilldirectlybenefitchildrenwhodonotgotoschoolatpresent.

PrimeMinisterManmohanSinghannouncedtheoperationalisationoftheAct.Children,whohadeitherdroppedoutofschoolsorneverbeentoanyeducationalinstitution,willgetelementaryeducationasitwillbebindingonthepartofthelocalandStategovernmentstoensurethatallchildreninthe614agegroupgetschooling.AspertheAct,privateeducationalinstitutionsshouldreserve25percentseatsforchildrenfromtheweakersectionsofsociety.TheCentreandtheStateshaveagreedtosharethefinancialburdenintheratioof55:45,whiletheFinanceCommissionhasgivenRs.250billiontotheStatesforimplementingtheAct.TheCentrehasapprovedanoutlayofRs.150billionfor20102011.

3/9/2015 FundamentalrightsinIndiaWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_rights_in_India 11/14

Wikisourcehasoriginaltextrelatedtothisarticle:ConstitutionofIndia/PartIII

Theschoolmanagementcommitteeorthelocalauthoritywillidentifythedropoutsoroutofschoolchildrenagedabovesixandadmittheminclassesappropriatetotheirageaftergivingspecialtraining.

Seealso

FundamentalRights,DirectivePrinciplesandFundamentalDutiesofIndiaDirectivePrinciplesinIndiaConstitutionofIndiaGovernmentofIndiaParliamentofIndiaWritsinIndianlaw

References

HistoryoftheRemovaloftheFundamentalRighttoProperty(http://ccs.in/internship_papers/2002/25.pdf)RighttoPropertyundertheIndianConstitution(http://www.lawyersclubindia.com/articles/RighttoPropertyundertheIndianConstitution3515.asp#.U1P9I6J7QuS)Basu,DurgaDas(1988)."ShorterconstitutionofIndia".NewDelhi:PrenticeHallofIndia..

Basu,DurgaDas(1993)."IntroductiontotheconstitutionofIndia".NewDelhi:PrenticeHallofIndia..

"BodhisattwaGautamvs.SubhraChakraborty1995ICHRL69"(http://www.worldlii.org/int/cases/ICHRL/1995/69.html).WorldLegalInformationInstitute(http://www.worldlii.org/).Retrieved20060525.Dateofruling15December1995

InTheKesavanandaCaseof1973,famouslyknownasthe"FundamentalRightscase",theSupremeCourtdecidedthatthebasicstructureoftheConstitutionofIndiawasunamendable.

"ConstitutionofIndia"(http://india.gov.in/govt/constitutions_india.php).NIC.Retrieved20120324.FullTextofIndianConstitutioninHindiandEnglish

ManekaGandhiv.UnionofIndiaAIR1978S.C.597,(1978).

Pylee,M.V.(1999)."India'sconstitution".NewDelhi:S.ChandandCompany.ISBN812191907X..

Sinha,SavitaDas,SuptaRashmi,Neeraja(2005)."SocialSciencePartII".NewDelhi:NationalCouncilofEducationalResearchandTraining,India.ISBN817450351X..

Tayal,B.B.Jacob,A.(2005)."IndianHistory,WorldDevelopmentsandCivics".DistrictSirmour,HimachalPradesh:AvichalPublishingCompany.ISBN8177390961..

O'Flaharty,W.D.J.D.M.,Derrett(1981)."TheConceptofDutyinAsiaAfricanCharteronHumanandPeople'sRightof1981".

Article29ofUniversalDeclarationofHumanRightsandInternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights.

3/9/2015 FundamentalrightsinIndiaWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_rights_in_India 12/14

"ListofAmendmentstotheConstitutionofIndia"(http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/coifiles/amendment.htm).NIC.Retrieved20120324.ListofamendmentstoIndianConstitutionincluding97thconstitutionalamendmentactnotifiedinJan2012

Laski,HaroldJoseph(1930)."LibertyintheModernState".NewYorkandLondon:HarpersandBrothers..

Footnotes

1. ^political.fundamentalright.2. ^ConstitutionofIndiaPartIIIFundamentalRights.3. ^Tayal,B.B.&Jacob,A.(2005),IndianHistory,WorldDevelopmentsandCivics,pg.A234. ^Gandhi,Rajmohan.Patel:ALife.p.206.5. ^UNI."SardarPatelwastherealarchitectoftheConstitution"(http://www.rediff.com/freedom/22patel.htm).

Rediff.com.Retrieved20060515.

6. ^abTheterm"State"includesallauthoritieswithintheterritoryofIndia.ItincludestheGovernmentofIndia,theParliamentofIndia,theGovernmentandlegislatureofthestatesofIndia.ItalsoincludesalllocalorotherauthoritiessuchasMunicipalCorporations,MunicipalBoards,DistrictBoards,Panchayatsetc.ToavoidconfusionwiththetermstatesandterritoriesIndia,State(encompassingalltheauthoritiesinIndia)hasbeencapitalisedandthetermstate(referringtothestategovernments)isinlowercase.

7. ^Laski,HaroldJoseph(1930).LibertyintheModernState.NewYorkandLondon:HarpersandBrothers.8. ^"BodhisattwaGautamvs.SubhraChakraborty1995ICHRL69"

(http://www.worldlii.org/int/cases/ICHRL/1995/69.html).WorldLegalInformationInstitute(http://www.worldlii.org/).Retrieved20060525.ThiswasthecasewherePublicinterestlitigationwasintroduced(dateofruling15December1995).

9. ^Tayal,B.B.&Jacob,A.(2005),IndianHistory,WorldDevelopmentsandCivics,pg.A25

10. ^abc"Citizenship(Amendment)Bill,2003"(http://web.archive.org/web/20060425230738/http://rajyasabha.nic.in/legislative/amendbills/XXXIX_2003.pdf)(PDF).RajyaSabha(http://rajyasabha.nic.in/).p.5.Archivedfromtheoriginal(http://rajyasabha.nic.in/legislative/amendbills/XXXIX_2003.pdf)on25April2006.Retrieved20060525.

11. ^"BodhisattwaGautamvs.SubhraChakraborty1995ICHRL69"(http://www.worldlii.org/int/cases/ICHRL/1995/69.html).WorldLegalInformationInstitute(http://www.worldlii.org/).Retrieved20060525.Thiswasthecasewherefundamentalrightswereenforcedagainstprivateindividuals(dateofruling15December1995).

12. ^KesavanandaBharativs.TheStateofKeralaAIR1973S.C.1461,(1973)4SCC225Inwhatbecamefamouslyknownasthe"FundamentalRightscase",theSupremeCourtdecidedthatthebasicstructureoftheConstitutionofIndiawasunamendable

13. ^Tayal,B.B.&Jacob,A.(2005),IndianHistory,WorldDevelopmentsandCivics,pg.A2414. ^ConstitutionofIndiaPartIIIArticle14FundamentalRights.

3/9/2015 FundamentalrightsinIndiaWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_rights_in_India 13/14

15. ^ConstitutionofIndiaPartIIIArticle15FundamentalRights.16. ^ConstitutionofIndiaPartIIIArticle16FundamentalRights.17. ^ConstitutionofIndiaPartIIIArticle17FundamentalRights.18. ^ConstitutionofIndiaPartIIIArticle18FundamentalRights.19. ^Basu,DurgaDas(1988).ShorterConstitutionofIndia.NewDelhi:PrenticeHallofIndia.Basu,DurgaDas

(1993).IntroductiontotheConstitutionofIndia.NewDelhi:PrenticeHallofIndia.20. ^DemocraticPoliticsClass9.NCERT.21. ^ConstitutionofIndiaPartIIIArticle19FundamentalRights.22. ^http://indiankanoon.org/doc/1218090/23. ^Pylee,M.V.(1999).India'sConstitution.NewDelhi:S.ChandandCompany.ISBN812191907X.24. ^VasudhaDhagamwar(4May2004)."ThepriceofaBill"(http://www.indianexpress.com/oldStory/46240/).

Retrieved24March2009.

25. ^abConstitutionofIndiaPartIIIArticle23FundamentalRights.26. ^ConstitutionofIndiaPartIIIArticle24FundamentalRights.27. ^ConstitutionofIndiaPartIIIArticle26FundamentalRights.28. ^ConstitutionofIndiaPartIIIArticle27FundamentalRights.29. ^ConstitutionofIndiaPartIIIArticle28FundamentalRights.30. ^ConstitutionofIndiaPartIIIArticle25FundamentalRights.31. ^ConstitutionofIndiaPartIIIArticle20FundamentalRights.32. ^ConstitutionofIndiaPartIIIArticle21FundamentalRights.33. ^NandanG(May1994)."Indiangrantsrighttosuicide"(http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/308/6941/1392).

BMJ308(6941):1392.doi:10.1136/bmj.308.6941.1392(https://dx.doi.org/10.1136%2Fbmj.308.6941.1392).34. ^Paper3:AbolitionandRestorationofSection309IPCanoverviewbyBRSharma,ASharma,DHarish:

AnilAggrawal'sInternetJournalofForensicMedicine:Vol.7,No.1(JanuaryJune2006)(http://www.geradts.com/anil/ij/vol_007_no_001/papers/paper003.html)

35. ^ManekaGandhiv.UnionofIndiaAIR1978S.C.597,(1978).

36. ^ab86thAmendmentAct,2002(http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/amend/amend86.htm).37. ^righttoeducationbill(http://www.indg.gov.in/primaryeducation/policiesandschemes/righttoeducationbill).38. ^ConstitutionofIndiaPartIIIArticle22FundamentalRights.39. ^ConstitutionofIndiaPartIIIArticle29FundamentalRights.40. ^ConstitutionofIndiaPartIIIArticle30FundamentalRights.41. ^ConstitutionofIndiaPartIIIArticle32FundamentalRights.

42. ^abcdefTayal,B.B.&Jacob,A.(2005),IndianHistory,WorldDevelopmentsandCivics,pg.A3343. ^ConstitutionofIndiaPartIVArticle41DirectivePrinciplesofStatePolicy.44. ^SeniorInspectorjustifieslathicharge(http://web.midday.com/news/city/2006/may/137263.htm)duringthe

2006Indianantireservationprotests45. ^LathiChargeinMumbai(http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1029206&CatID=1)duringthe2006

Indianantireservationprotests46. ^"ChildlabourinIndia"(http://www.indiatogether.org/photo/2006/chilabour.htm).IndiaTogether

(http://www.indiatogether.org).Retrieved20060627.47. ^Indexofperceptionofcorruption,publishedbyTransparencyInternational.

3/9/2015 FundamentalrightsinIndiaWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_rights_in_India 14/14

Retrievedfrom"http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fundamental_rights_in_India&oldid=650449681"

Categories: ConstitutionofIndia Nationalhumanrightsinstruments HumanrightsinIndia

Thispagewaslastmodifiedon8March2015,at14:27.TextisavailableundertheCreativeCommonsAttributionShareAlikeLicenseadditionaltermsmayapply.Byusingthissite,youagreetotheTermsofUseandPrivacyPolicy.WikipediaisaregisteredtrademarkoftheWikimediaFoundation,Inc.,anonprofitorganization.

48. ^Sovereignmeanspossessingsupremeorultimatepower."inmoderndemocraciesthepeople'swillisintheorysovereign"synonyms:supreme,absolute,unlimited,unrestricted,unrestrained,unbounded,boundless,infinite,ultimate,total,unconditional,full,utter,paramountprincipal,chief,dominant,predominant

49. ^44thAmendmentAct,1978(http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/amend/amend44.htm).50. ^Mahapatra,Dhananjay(28February2009)."Shouldrighttopropertyreturn?"

(http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Shouldrighttopropertyreturn/articleshow/4202212.cms).TheTimesofIndia.Retrieved8July2010.

51. ^"Courtrejectspleatomakepropertyafundamentalright"(http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article836599.ece).TheHindu(Chennai,India).19October2010.

52. ^"Educationisnowafundamentalrightofeverychild"(http://www.hindustantimes.com/Educationisnowafundamentalrightofeverychild/Article1525653.aspx).HindustanTimes.1April2010.Retrieved8July2010.