Democratic Rights

Presented byBragadeeswarSidharthAnirudhMithunAmritShanu

Introduction

 Elections and Institutions need to be combined with a third element enjoyment of rights - to make a government democratic.

Life Without RightsRights provide the foundation upon which civilized human society functions.Without rights, a society will be reduced a situation where the mighty and the strong gain precedence and those power would have course of redressal in case of personal injury, threat or harm to their life and liberty.

Prison in Guantanamo Bay

Citizen’s Rights in Saudi Arabia

Rights In A Democracy

What are rights?

Rights are claims of a person over other follow beings, over the society and over the government. So a right is possible when you make a claim that is equally possible for others. Right acquire meaning only in society. Every society makes certain rules to regulate our conduct, they tell us what is right and what is wrong. What is recognized by the society as rightful become the bases of rights.

Why do we need rights in a democracy? Rights are necessary for the very existence of democracy.

Every citizen has the right to participate in the democratic process. Additionally, every citizen has the right to become the part of the democratic government. part of the democratic government.

Rights protect the rights of the minorities against the majority. Things can go wrong when some citizens try to take away the rights of others.

Rights In The Indian Constitution

Certain rights are fundamental to our life and hence they are given special status in the Constitution. Such rights are called Fundamental Rights. 

Fundamental Rights

Right to Equality

Right to Freedom

Right Against

Exploitation

Right to Freedom

of Religion

Cultural and

Educational Rights

Right to Equality The government shall not deny the right to equality before the law to any

person in India. Every Indian citizen; right from a poor landless labourer to the Prime Minister; is equal in the eyes of the law of the land. The law of the land does not discriminate between two persons on the basis of socio-economic status or power.

Every citizen has equal access to public places and public facilities; like temples, bathing ghats, road, public toilets, community well, etc.

Every person gets the equal opportunity to compete for public jobs; like Civil Services, defense services, etc. However, some provisions have been made to give special preference to people from the SCs, STs, Women and OBCs. Similarly, physically disabled are also given reservation in government jobs.

Untouchability; in any form has been banned and has been made a punishable offence.

Right to Freedom The Right to Freedom means, we can do whatever we want to do;

without interference from others; especially the government.

Right to Freedo

m

Freedom of speech

and expression

Freedom of

assembly in a

peaceful manner

Freedom to form

associations and unions

Freedom to move to and reside in any part of country

Freedom to carry out any

profession or

business

Right Against ExploitationThis right mainly focuses on

three issues which are as follows:

Traffic in human beings: This means the human beings cannot be

traded to be used as slaves or to be used for immoral

purposes.

Bonded Labour: The constitution has banned

the forced labour or beggar. If a person is

forced to work without pay or at nominal pay, this is termed as beggar. If the

beggar continues for a long period then it is known as

bonded labour.

Child Labour: Child labour has been banned in the

country. A child below 14 years of age cannot be employed in hazardous

works; like factories, railway stations, highway

eateries, etc. Due to constant efforts by the

government, there are now very few instances of children working in

hazardous occupations; firecracker factory, bangle

factory, etc.

Right to Freedom of ReligionThe constitution gives the right to freedom of religion. As per this right, a person is free to follow a religion of his or her choice. The government does not interfere in the religious matter of its citizens. Every person has the right to profess, practice and propagate his religion. Every religious group or sect is free to manage its religious affairs. But a person cannot compel another person to agree to a particular religion by any means. However, a person is free to convert to any religion of his choice. Freedom of religion does not mean doing anything in the name of religion.

Cultural and Educational Rights

Every minority group has the right to protect its unique culture and to propagate its unique culture. If a minority group wants to impart education in its own language, it is free to do so; in order to preserve the uniqueness of that language and the related culture. The government run institutions cannot deny admission to anybody on the grounds of religion or language.

How can we secure these rights?

Right to Constitutional Remedies:When any of the fundamental rights is violated, the affected person has the right to seek constitutional remedies. The person can go to the court where his grievances could be addressed. No government organ; like the executive, legislature or any government functionary; cannot violate the fundamental rights of the citizens. In case of any violation of the fundamental rights, a person can file Public Interest Litigation (PIL). PIL is an instrument which allows anybody to knock at the doors of the judiciary.

Expanding Scope of Rights

Times have changed drastically since the days when our Constitution was written. Demands for many new fundamental rights have been coming up time and again. Some of these demands have been included under the scope of fundamental rights. For example; the Right to Education has been included in the list recently. As per this right, every child has the right to get elementary education. Similarly, RTI (Right to Information) was enacted recently. Under RTI, anybody can demand information regarding the functions of a government department or official. The RTI has helped in bringing transparency in working of government departments.

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