PART – 3                                          FuNDAMENTAL RIGHTS                                                                                          Article 12- 35

“Magna Carta of India”

Derived from USA [Bill of Rights]

Also “The Corner stone of the Constitution” 

Aim  establishing  ‘a government of laws and not of men’

They are Fundamental because – guaranteed & protected by the Constitution, which is Fundamental law of land.

Features 

Some of them are available only to the citizens while others are available to citizens, foreigners or legal persons

They are not absolute but qualified  subject to reasonable restrictions  strike a balance between the rights and society.

Available against arbitrary action of state and private individuals

Some are negative while others are positive.

Justiciable.

Defended and guaranteed by Supreme Court.

Not sacrosanct or permanent.

Except Article 20 and 21 – can be suspended during national emergency  Article 19 cannot be suspended during armed rebellion.

Most of  them  are  directly  in  enforceable  while  a  few  can  be  enforced  by Parliamentary laws.

 

Category :

1. Right to equality (Art 14-18)

2. Right to freedom (Art. 19-22)

3. Right against exploitation (Art 23-24)

4. Right to freedom of religion (Art 25-28)

5. Cultural & education Right (Art 29-30)

6. Right to constitutional remedies (Art. 32)

 

Art-12 – Definition of ‘state’ state includes 

a) Govt & Parl. of India.

b) Govt & legislature of state

c) All local & other authority 

1. Within the territory of India

2. Under the Constitution of GOI

Art -13 – Law inconsistent with FRS

· Declares, all laws, Inconsistent with or derogation of any FRS shall be void.

· Declares, constitutional amendment is not a law and hence cannot be challenged

· Keshwananda Bharti  Constitutional Amendment  can be challenged on the ground that it violates a fundamental right  part of the basic structure of the Constitution

 

Right to Equality                       (art 14-18)

 

Art-14  Equality before law and equal protection of law

· State shall not deny to any person equality before law and equal protection of law.

· Includes citizens & foreigners as well as legal person.

 

Equality before law  British origin, (-) concept, prohibits special treatment, ‘Rule of law’ by Prof. AV Dicey.

Equal protection of Law  US Origin, (+ive) concept, allow special treatment, equality of  treatment, permit – ob& transaction by Law.

Rule of Law  no person can be punished except for bench of law

· Everyone – Equal  before Law

· Cont. Result  right of individual rather than Constitution being the source of       individual Rights.

· SC held ‘Rule of Law’ is basic features & cannot be amended.

 

Art- 15  Prohibition of Discrimination – only of religion, race, caste,  sex or birth of place.

– Subject to Any disability, liability, restriction condition :

Ø Access shop, public, restaurants, hotels & place of public entertainment.

Ø Use of well, tanks, bathing ghats, road & place of public result maintained wholly or practically by state funds.

 

 Art- 16  Equality of opportunity in public employment

 

No citizen can be discriminated against or be in eligible for any employment or office under state on grounds of only religion, race, caste, sex, decent. Place of birth or residence.

 

Ø Reservation can be provided for the upliftment of SC/ST/other backward class.

Ø 2019  allow EWS reservation- maximum 10%

Ø Reservation can also be provided on the basis of consequential seniority in public    employment to SC/ST

 

Art-17  Abolition of untouchability

Untouchability offence act, 1955

Protection of civil Right Act (1976)

Sc/ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act) 1989

 

Art-18  Abolition of titles, status privileges

· Prohibit the state from Conferring any titles  except Military & academics

· Prohibit citizen title Foreign Nation

· Foreign titles from foreign Nation 

Ø They have to take permission from POI

· 1954  Congress Nation Award | Janta Party against (X)  1980

· Balaji Raghvan Case

Ø Title not allowed (X)

Ø Award ( )

 

Right to freedom (Articles 19–22)

 

Art-19-  Protection of certian rights regarding freedom of speech. 

Art 19 (1) (a) – Right of freedom of expression, speech etc.

Art 19 (1) (b) – Right to peace full assembly without Arms

Art 19 (1) (c) – Right to form union & Cooperative society

Art 19 (1) (d) – Right to move freely throughout the territory

Art 19 (1) (e) – Right to reside & settle in any part of territor.

Art 19 (1) (f) – abolished by 44th CA, 1948

Art 19 (1) (g) – Right to practice any business & profession.

 

Art- 20  Protection in respect of conviction of offence

Ø No export facto law

Ø No double Jeopardy

Ø No self-incrimination

 

Art-21  Protection of life & personal liberty

· No person shall be deprived of personal liberty except the authority established by the law –United Kingdom

· In India  follow procedure established by law  reason behind passing law is not checked extensively as in USA – limiting power of judiciary

· SC held – Menaka Gandhi  should follow–“Due to process of law”  USA

Ø fair

Ø Reasonable

Ø Transparent (and not emphasised on only physical existence but also social existence.)

 

Art-21(A)

state shall provide free & compulsory education from 6-14 years, by 86th CAA- 2002.  also recognised as a fundamental duty of parents to send children to school.


Art-22 – Protection against Arrest and Preventive Detention.

 Punitive Detention

24 hr – present before a magistrate – no right for police investigation until court order –  blood samples and other tests can be taken with due permission of the         accused.

Right to consult legal practitioner of once choice

Right to know the reason for arrest

Preventive detention – Action on suspicion or doubt of causing or inciting – disturbing  morality  harm security of state

Ø Max-3 month  extendable upon due permission from a joint committee consisting of persons with qualification of High Court judges

Eg- TADA, COFEPOSA, UAPA

Right against exploitation (Articles 23–24)

 Art-23  Prohibition of human trafficking & Forced Labour.

· The immoral traffic prevention Act 1956

· National Anti  trafficking bill,2018

· Women forced begging, child, Body organ etc.

Art-24-Prohibition of child labour in factories & hazardous industries (14 years)

· Non-hazardous employment not prohibited  rural India  more hands = more     money

 Right to freedom of  religion (Article 25– 28)

Art-25 Right to freedom of Religion (available to all i.e. freedom of conscience.)

Right to 

Ø Profess, Practice, Propagate

Ø Restriction on Public order, Morality health.

Ø State can regulate over practice and propagation  not over professing or conscience

 

Art 26  Collective Right to manage & establish & Main Religious Institution

 

Art-27  No taxes for promotion or maintenance of any  religious institution.

 

Art-28  No Religious instruction  wholly maintained by state funds.

· Religious instruction ( yes )  by trust 

· Recognition by state & funded by state, pvt, school.

 

Cultural and educational rights (Articles 29–35)

 

Art-29  Protection of Interest of minorities.

Art 29 (1)-Any section of the citizens residing in india having a distinct culture, language or script, the Right to Conserve his language, Religion, Culture.

· For education in any institution; No discrimination on the basis of Religion, Race, Case, Religion etc.

 

Art-30  Right of lingustic minorities to Establish and administer educational institutions

 · Right of Minority 

1. Conserve  education institution

2. Administer Linguistic & Religious.

· Eg- St Stephen College case- they wanted to provide all seat to minority but, rule, only 50% of seat given to minorities.

 Art-31 

· No one shall be deprived of his property except authority by law

· By 44th AA, 1978  abolished

· Art. 300 (A) was Added

· As Law of property  Not fundamental but Legal & Constitution Right.

 

Art-31 (A)  Compulsory acquisitions can be done.

Art-31 (B) Violation of certains rules & regulation (land form)

 Art-31 (C) Purpose to implement the DPSP in Art (39 (B)) & (39(C)). By 1st CA -1951  31 (A) & 312(B) was Added.

 Art.32  Constitutional Remidies

On the violation of FRs, one can issue writs, (habeas corpus, mandamus, certiorari & quo warrento)

 · Habeas Corpus – Latin term meaning “to have the body of” – issued against both public and private – ordered issued by a court to person who has detained another to produce body of the later before it.

· Mandamus – means “we command” –issued by the court to make a public official perform his official duties that he has failed or refuse to perform – issued against any public body, Corp, inferior court, tribunal, or government.

· Prohibition  means “to forbid”  issued by a higher court to a lower court -prevent the latter from exceeding jurisdiction or usurping a jurisdiction that it doesnot possess- unlike mandamus that directs activity  prohibition directs inactivity

· Certiorari – means “to be certified” – issued by higher court to a lower court to transfer a case pending or squash order – grounds: excess of jurisdiction or lack or error of law

· Quo Warranto – means “by what authority or warrant” – issued by the court to enquire into legality of claim of a person to a public office – prevent illegal assassination of public office by person – unlike other four can be sought by any interested person and not only aggrieved.

 

Art. 33  Parliament has power to restrict the FRs of members of Armed force, para military force, police force, intelligence agencies.

 

Art.34  Restriction on FR, While material law enforced. 

No specific Conditioned Mentioned.

 

Art.35 To make law & give effect to certain specified fundamental right shall be vest in Parliament.

 

Criticism

· Excessive limitation

· No social and economic Rights

· No Clarity

· No Permanency

· Suspension during emergency

· Expensive Remedy

· Preventive Detention

 

Significance

 

· Bedrock of democratic system

· Necessary conditions for the material and moral protection of man.

· Serve as a formidable bulwark of individual liberty.

· Facilitate the establishment of rule of law in the country.

· Protect the interests of minorities and weaker sections ofsociety.

· Strengthen the secular fabric of the Indian State.

· Check the absoluteness of the authority of the government.

· Lay down the foundation stone of social equality and socialjustice.

· Ensure the dignity and respect of individuals.

· Facilitate the participation of people in the political and administrative process.

 

Constitution Right

 

265 –tax only by procedure established by law

 

301  Trade, intercourse, commerce shall be free.

 

326  Election of LS & SLA on the basis of adult/suffrage.