6.19.2. Description

Article 29(1) recognizes the right of an individual to preserve his culture, his language and script. Article 29(2) prohibits the State from making discrimination while granting access to educational institutions.

Note: Article 15 doesn’t mention language as a ground of discrimination, but it is included in

Article 29.

Article 29 grants protection to both linguistic and religious minorities. SC has held that the scope of this article is not restricted to minorities only and is available to “all sections” of the population, including majority.

In Champakam Dorairajan case (1951) the reservation provided to backward sections was challenged on the ground that it violated Article 29(2). The 1st Amendment Act was then enacted, inserting Article 15(4) for providing reservation.