Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
Freedom is one of the most important ideals cherished by any democratic society. The Indian Constitution guarantees freedom to citizens. In this article, you will get to know the fundamental right of the Right to Freedom for Indian citizens.
ARTICLE 19 Protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech, etc
(1) All citizens shall have the right— (a) to freedom of speech and expression; (b) to assemble peaceably and without arms; (c) to form associations or unions [or co-operative societies]; (d) to move freely throughout the territory of India; (e) to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India; [and] (f)* * * * *] (g) to practise any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business
Freedom of speech and expression: The State guarantees freedom of speech and expression to every person of India. However, the State can impose restrictions on the freedom of speech and expression in the interests of the integrity, security, and sovereignty of the country, friendly relations with foreign nations, for public order, with respect to defamation, incitement to offence, or contempt of court.
Freedom to assemble: The State guarantees every person the freedom to assemble peacefully without arms. However, as above, reasonable restrictions can be imposed in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of the country and public order.
Freedom to form associations/unions/cooperative societies: Again, the State can impose restrictions in the interests of the integrity, security, and sovereignty of the country, friendly relations with foreign nations, for public order, with respect to defamation, incitement to offence, or contempt of court. This freedom gives workers the right to form a trade union, which is thus a fundamental right. The Police Forces (Restriction of Rights) Act, of 1966 prohibits police personnel from forming trade unions.
The Constitution also allows the Parliament to pass a law restricting the right to form a political association with members of the armed forces, intelligence bureaus, and persons employed with the telecommunication system.
Freedom to move freely: A citizen of India can move freely throughout the territory of India. But this right can also be restricted on the grounds of security, public order, or for protecting the interests of the Scheduled Tribes.
Freedom of residence: Citizens of India have the right to reside in any part of the country. Although restrictions can be imposed on the grounds of security, public order, or for protecting the interests of the Scheduled Tribes.
Freedom of profession: All citizens have the right to carry on any trade or profession/occupation, provided the trade or occupation is not illegal or immoral. Also, the law does not prevent the State from making laws related to technical or professional qualifications required for practicing the occupation or trade.
ARTICLE 20 Protection in respect of conviction for offences
(1) No person shall be convicted of any offence except for violation of a law in force at the time of the commission of the Act charged as an offence, nor be subjected to a penalty greater than that which might have been inflicted under the law in force at the time of the commission of the offence. (2) No person shall be prosecuted and punished for the same offence more than once. (3) No person accused of any offence shall be compelled to be a witness against himself
Article 20 deals with the protection of citizens in respect of conviction for offences. This provides for three types of protection of the individual against the State.
- Retrospective criminal legislation: This is also known as ex-post-facto criminal legislation. Under this, a person cannot be convicted for an act that was committed at a time when the act had not been declared by law as an offence.
- This means that criminal legislation cannot be given a retrospective effect.
- This immunity cannot be used against the provision of preventive detention, and also does not cover the trial.
- The law also provides that a person cannot be subject to a punishment greater than what is prescribed by law for the offence committed.
- Double jeopardy: This indicates that a person cannot be convicted for the same offence more than once.
- Prohibition against self-incrimination: This implies that no person accused of an offence shall be compelled by the State to bear witness against himself.
ARTICLE 21 Protection of life and personal liberty
No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law.
Article 21 states that no person shall be deprived of his life and personal liberty by the State except as per the procedure established by law. This article has a wide scope and its interpretation has undergone many changes over the decades.
- The Supreme Court has interpreted the right to life as the right to a dignified life.
- This is the most important right in one sense, because, without this right to life, all other fundamental rights would be meaningless.
- It is this article that differentiates between a police state and a constitutional state
ARTICLE 21A Right to education
The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years in such manner as the State may, by law, determine
This article was introduced by the 86th Constitutional Amendment in 2002. It provides that the State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children between the ages of 6 and 14.
ARTICLE 22 Protection against arrest and detention in certain cases.
Article 22 deals with the protection against arrest and detention in certain cases.
- This article is applicable to both citizens and non-citizens.
- This provision extends certain procedural safeguards for individuals in case of an arrest.
- It comes into the picture after a person has been arrested. It is not a fundamental right against detention and arrest.
- The idea behind this right is to prevent arbitrary arrests and detention.
- The article provides the following safeguards:
- Article 22(1) – Any person who is in custody has to be informed as to why he has been arrested. Further, he cannot be denied the right to consult an advocate.
- Article 22(2) – The arrested individual should be produced before a judicial magistrate within 24 hours of his arrest.
- Article 22(3) – No individual who has been arrested can be kept in custody for more than the period determined by the judicial magistrate.
- These safeguards are, however, not applicable to
- Enemy aliens
- People arrested under preventive detention laws
Preventive Detention –
There are two types of detention:
- Punitive
- Preventive
Punitive detention is detention after a trial. Preventive detention is detention without trial. The idea behind this is to prevent an individual from committing a crime. This means that persons can be detained on grounds of suspicion. The rights of people arrested in this manner are governed by preventive detention laws.
MUST READ
THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA – PART 1