Contents
1. Concept of Rights 139
2. Categories of Rights 140
2.1. Natural Rights 141
2.2. Human Rights 141
2.3. Legal rights 141
2.4. Constitutional Rights 141
2.5. Civil and Political Rights 141
2.6. Negative and Positive Rights 142
3. Understanding Fundamental Rights 142
4. Evolution of Fundamental Rights 142
5. Classes of Fundamental Rights 143
6. Details of Fundamental Rights 144
6.1. Article 12 – Definition of State 144
6.1.1. Text 144
6.1.2. Description 144
6.2. Article 13 147
6.2.1. Description 147
6.2.2. Judicial Review 148
6.2.3. Doctrine of Eclipse 148
6.2.4. Doctrine of Severability 148
6.2.5. Doctrine of Waiver 149
6.2.6. Doctrine of Basic Structure 150
6.2.7. Doctrine of Prospective Over-Ruling 150
6.3. Article 14 – Right to Equality 150
6.3.1. Text 150
6.3.2. Description 151
6.4. Article 15 – Right against Discrimination on Certain Grounds 151
6.4.1. Text 151
6.4.2. Applicability 152
6.4.3. Exceptions 152
6.4.4. Reservation Policy 153
6.5. Article 16- Right to Equality of Opportunities in Matters of Public Employment 156
6.5.1. Text 156
6.5.2. Applicability 157
6.5.3. Exceptions 157
6.5.4. Issue of reservation in promotions 158
6.5.5 Issue of Local Reservation in Private Sector Jobs 159
6.5.6 Job Reservations, Promotion Quotas Not A Fundamental Right 161
6.6. Article 17 – Abolition of Untouchability 162
6.6.1. Text 162
6.6.2. Description 162
6.6.3. The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 163
6.6.4. The Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989 163
6.7. Article 18 164
6.7.1. Text 164
6.7.2. Description 164
6.7.3. Case of Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards 164
6.8. Article 19 – Right to Freedom 164
6.8.1. Text 164
6.8.2. Applicability 164
6.8.3 Freedom of Speech and Expression 165
6.8.4. Freedom of Assembly 165
6.8.5. Freedom of Association 165
6.8.6. Freedom of Movement 166
6.8.7. Freedom of Residence 166
6.8.8. Freedom of Profession 166
6.9. Article 20- Protection in respect of Conviction for Offences 174
6.9.1. Text 174
6.9.2. Description 174
6.9.3. Controversies 174
6.9.4. Applicability 175
6.10. Article 21 – Right to Life and Liberty 175
6.10.1. Text 175
6.10.2. Description 175
6.10.3. Due Process of Law 175
6.10.4. Status in India 176
6.10.5. Impact of National Emergency and Applicability 177
6.10.6. Right to Death/Suicide 177
6.10.7. Death Penalty/Capital Punishment 177
6.10.8. Right to Privacy 177
6.10.9. Euthanasia/Mercy killing 178
6.10.10. Right to choose 179
6.11. Article 21A 180
6.11.1. Text of Right to education 180
6.11.2. Description/Historical Evolution 180
6.11.3. 86th Amendment Act 180
6.11.4. Evaluation of RTE 181
6.11.5. Applicability 182
6.12. Article 22- Protection against Arrest and Detention in Certain Cases 182
6.12.1. Text 182
6.12.2. Description 182
6.12.3. Legislations 183
6.12.4. Court Judgments 183
6.13. Article 23 – Prohibition of Traffic in Humans and Forced Labor 183
6.13.1. Text 183
6.13.2. Description 184
6.13.3. Legislations 184
6.13.4. Applicability 184
6.14. Article 24 – Prohibition of employment of children 184
6.14.1. Text 184
6.14.2. Description 184
6.14.3. Legislations 184
6.14.4. Applicability 185
6.15. Article 25 185
6.15.1. Description 186
6.15.2. Applicability 186
6.15.3. Important Judgments 187
6.16. Article 26 188
6.16.1. Text 188
6.16.2. Description 188
6.16.3. Relation with Article 25 188
6.16.4. Sabarimala Temple Issue 188
6.17. Article 27 190
6.17.1. Text 190
6.17.2. Description 190
6.18. Article 28 190
6.18.1. Text 190
6.18.2. Description 191
6.19. Article 29 191
6.19.1. Text 191
6.19.2. Description 191
6.19.3. Applicability 191
6.20. Article 30 191
6.20.1. Text 191
6.20.2. Description 192
6.20.3. Relation between Article 29 and 30 192
6.20.4. Applicability 192
6.20.5. Minority Educational Institutions 192
6.20.6. Important judgments 195
6.20.7. The Lacuna 196
6.21. Article 31 196
6.22. Article 31A 198
6.23. Article 31B – Validation of Certain Acts and Regulations 198
6.23.1. Controversy with respect to IX Schedule 199
6.24. Article 31C- Saving of laws giving effect to directive principles 199
6.25. Article 32 199
6.25.1. Text 199
6.25.2. Description 200
6.25.3. Doctrine of Laches 200
6.25.4. Doctrine of Res Judicata 200
6.25.5. Writs 201
6.25.6. Importance of Article 32 202
6.25.7. Article 32(3) 202
6.25.8. Article 32(4) 202
6.26. Article 33 202
6.26.1. Text 202
6.26.2. Description 203
6.27. Article 34 203
6.27.1. Text 203
6.27.2. Description 203
6.28. Article 35 204
6.28.1. Text 204
6.28.2. Description 204
7. Are Fundamental Rights Absolute 205
8. Criticism of Fundamental Rights 205
9. Previous year UPSC GS Mains Questions 206
10. Previous year UPSC Prelims Questions 208
11. Previous Year GS Mains Test Series Questions 210