Ch 07 – Fundamental Rights | Exam Fusion Prep

📖 General Introduction

Part III of Constitution · Articles 12–35
Justiciable — Enforceable in Court
Called the Charter of Rights of India (like Magna Carta)
Draft at Karachi Session (1931) by Jawaharlal Nehru
Source → US Constitution
Currently 6 Rights (Initially 7)
Right to Property removed → now Legal Right Art. 300A · via 44th Amendment, 1978 · removed by PM Morarji Desai
Fundamental Rights are Amendable Keshavananda Bharti Case + 24th Amendment

⚠ Exam Trap

Fundamental Rights ke baare mein pucha jata hai ki inhe "Absolute" maana jaaye ya nahi — ye Absolute NAHI hain, reasonable restrictions lagayi ja sakti hain.

📋 6 Fundamental Rights — Mnemonic Table

Trick to Remember

EVERY FOOL EATS RIPE CUSTARD REGULARLY

E · F · E · R · C · R

#	Fundamental Right	Articles	Mnemonic
1	Right to Equality	14–18	Every
2	Right to Freedom	19–22	Fool
3	Right against Exploitation	23–24	Eats
4	Right to Freedom of Religion	25–28	Ripe
5	Cultural & Educational Rights	29–30	Custard
6	Right to Constitutional Remedies	32	Regularly

💡 Quick Recall

Art. 12 — Definition of State | Art. 13 — Laws violating FR are void (Keshavananda Bharti, 1973 — Basic Structure doctrine)

👥 Availability: Citizens vs All

Category	Articles
Only Indian Citizens	15, 16, 19, 29, 30
Indians + Foreigners Both	14, 20, 21, 21A, 22–28

⚠ Exam Trap

Art. 19 (6 Freedoms) sirf Indian Citizens ke liye hai — foreigners ke liye NAHI. Lekin Art. 21 (Right to Life) sabke liye available hai.

🔑 Key Articles at a Glance

Art 12 Definition of State — includes Parliament, Central & State Govts., Legislatures, etc.
Art 13 Any law violating FRs is void
Art 32 "Heart & Soul of Constitution" — Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
Art 226 High Courts — Wider jurisdiction (FR + Legal Rights both)
Art 300A Right to Property (Legal Right, not FR)
Art 33–35 Parliament's power to modify FRs for armed forces / Martial Law

💡 Quick Recall

Emergency mein Fundamental Rights suspend ho jaate hain (Art. 358 & 359). Art. 20 & 21 — Emergency mein bhi suspend NAHI hote!

⚖️ Right to Equality (Art. 14–18)

DOUBT Trick — Art. 15–18

D · O · U · B · T

D=15 (Discrimination) · O=16 (Opportunity) · U=17 (Untouchability) · B=– · T=18 (Titles)

Art 14 Equality before Law + Equal Protection of Law
Art 15 No discrimination on religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth 15(1) — No discrimination by State · 15(2) — Private entities (shops, hotels, roads) 15(3) — Special provisions for Women & Children 15(4) — Reservation SC/ST/OBC in educational institutions 15(5) — Reservation in private educational institutions 15(6) — EWS reservation in educational institutions
Art 16 Equality of opportunity in public employment 16(3) — Residence conditions · 16(4) — SC/ST/OBC reservation in jobs · 16(6) — EWS jobs
Art 17 Abolition of Untouchability → Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955
Art 18 Abolition of Titles — "Maharaja", "Raja", "Sir" etc. abolished

⚖️ Important Cases

Balaji v. State of Mysore (1963) — Reservation cap introduced
Indra Sawhney Case (1992) — Reservation in promotion cannot exceed 50%
Mandal Commission (1979) — 2nd Backward Class Commission — OBC reservation
Keshavananda Bharti Case (1973) — Basic Structure doctrine; laws violating it are void

⚠ Exam Trap

50% cap reservation mein apply hota hai. EWS (10%) alag se add hua 103rd Amendment, 2019 se — total 60% ho gaya technically, but 50% cap SC/ST/OBC ke liye rakha gaya hai.

💡 Quick Recall

Art. 17 — Untouchability abolish ki gayi hai, yani sirf chhoot maanna bhi punishable hai. Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955 is isko enforce karta hai.

🗣️ Article 19 — 6 Freedoms

Freedom of Speech & Expression Includes right to internet access as Fundamental Right
Right to Peaceful Assembly
Right to form Associations / Unions
Right to Move Freely throughout India
Right to Reside Anywhere in India
Right to Practice Any Profession or Occupation

⚠ Exam Trap

Art. 19 mein originally 7 freedoms thi — "Right to acquire, hold and dispose of property" remove hua 44th Amendment se. Ab sirf 6 freedoms hain.

💡 Quick Recall

Art. 19 sirf Indian Citizens ke liye hai, foreigners ke liye nahi. Internet ko Art. 19 ke under FR maana gaya hai.

🛡️ Articles 20, 21, 21A, 22

Art 20 Protection in respect of conviction for offences ✦ Punishment only under existing law (Ex-post-facto law nahi) ✦ No Double Jeopardy — same offence ke liye twice punish nahi ✦ No Self-incrimination
Art 21 Right to Life & Personal Liberty ✦ Includes: privacy, sleep, electricity, travel abroad, education, dignity etc. ✦ Maneka Gandhi Case — Right to Travel Abroad ✦ Olga Tellis v. BMC — Right to Livelihood
Art 21A Right to Free & Compulsory Education (children aged 6–14) ✦ Added by 86th Amendment Act, 2002 ✦ Implemented by Right to Education Act, 2009 (Enforced 2010)
Art 22 Protection against Arrest & Detention ✦ Right to be informed of reason for arrest ✦ Presented before magistrate within 24 hours ✦ Right to consult a lawyer of one's choice

⚠ Exam Trap

Art. 20 & 21 — Emergency ke dauran bhi suspend NAHI ho sakte. Ye do rights Emergency mein bhi guaranteed rahti hain!

🔒 Preventive Detention

Prevents crime before it occurs
Maximum 3 months' custody
Extension only with Advisory Board's Approval

⚠ Exam Trap

Preventive detention mein 24 hours rule APPLY NAHI hota (Art. 22 ka safeguard sirf ordinary arrest ke liye hai, preventive detention ke liye nahi).

🚫 Right Against Exploitation (Art. 23–24)

Art 23 Prohibition of Human Trafficking, forced labour, and begar Begar = unpaid/forced labour without consent
Art 24 Prohibits employment of children in factories etc. Below 14 years of age — cannot be employed in hazardous work

⚠ Exam Trap

Art. 24 mein sirf factories, mines, hazardous occupations ban hai — child labour ka complete ban nahi hai Constitution mein. Complete ban child labour acts se aata hai.

💡 Quick Recall

Art. 23 ke under Human Trafficking Prevention — both citizens & foreigners ke liye available. Begar ban bhi iske under aata hai.

🕌 Right to Freedom of Religion (Art. 25–28)

Art 25 Freedom of conscience, practice, profess & propagate religion
Art 26 Freedom to manage religious affairs
Art 27 Freedom from taxation for religious promotion
Art 28 Freedom regarding religious instruction in educational institutions

💡 Quick Recall

India is a Secular State — "Socialist Secular Democratic Republic" (42nd Amendment 1976 ne add kiya). Religion ke naam pe state funds use nahi ho sakte (Art. 27).

⚠ Exam Trap

Art. 25 mein "propagate" hai — lekin "convert karne ka right" nahi hai. Forceful conversion allowed nahi hai.

📚 Cultural & Educational Rights (Art. 29–30)

Art 29 Protection of interests of Minorities Right to conserve their language, script, culture
Art 30 Right of minorities to establish & administer educational institutions

💡 Quick Recall

Art. 29 & 30 — Only for Citizens (not foreigners). Minorities includes both religious & linguistic minorities.

⚠ Exam Trap

Art. 30 ke under minority institutions state aid le sakti hain lekin state unpe unreasonable restrictions nahi laga sakta. Minority institutions ke teachers bhi same rights rakhte hain.

🔨 Right to Constitutional Remedies (Art. 32)

"Heart & Soul of the Constitution" — Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
Provides guarantee of protection of Fundamental Rights
Art 32 → Supreme Court (Only for Fundamental Rights)
Art 226 → High Courts (FR + Legal Rights both) — Wider Jurisdiction

💡 Quick Recall

Hierarchy: Supreme Court → High Courts → Subordinate Courts. Art. 32 se directly Supreme Court ja sakte hain FR violation pe.

📜 5 Types of Writs

1. Habeas Corpus

"To have the body of"

Illegal detention ke against — person ko court ke saamne pesh karo

2. Mandamus

"We command"

Public authority ko uska duty perform karne ka aadesh

3. Quo-Warranto

"By what authority"

Kisi public office pe illegal kabze ko challenge karna

4. Certiorari

"To quash"

Lower court ke order ko higher court mein challenge karna (quash karna)

5. Prohibition

"To stop / Forbid"

Lower court ko apni jurisdiction se bahar jaane se rokna

⚠ Exam Trap

Certiorari — case already decided hone ke BAAD issue hota hai (quash). Prohibition — case PENDING rehte issue hota hai (prevent).

🔍 Other Important Facts

Internet access — Fundamental Right under Art. 19
Right to Property removed by PM Morarji Desai (44th Amendment, 1978)
FR suspended during Emergency (Art. 358 & 359)
Art. 20 & 21 — NEVER suspended, even during Emergency
FR are Amendable — Parliament can amend (but cannot destroy Basic Structure)

💡 Quick Recall

Keshavananda Bharti Case (1973) — Basic Structure Doctrine established. FR ke kuch parts Basic Structure mein aate hain, isliye unhe completely khatam nahi kar sakte.

📋 Articles 33–35

Art 33 Parliament's power to restrict rights of Armed Forces
Art 34 Restrictions during Martial Law
Art 35 Parliament's power to make laws for enforcement of certain Fundamental Rights

⚠ Exam Trap

Art. 33 ke tehat Armed Forces ke FRs ko Parliament restrict kar sakta hai — but completely khatam nahi kar sakta. Discipline maintain karne ke liye ye power hai.

🧠 Master Revision — Article Map

Article	Key Topic
12	Definition of State
13	Void laws
14	Equality before Law
15	No Discrimination
16	Equal Opportunity (employment)
17	Abolition of Untouchability
18	Abolition of Titles
19	6 Freedoms (citizens)
20	Protection from conviction
21	Right to Life
21A	Right to Education (6–14)
22	Protection from arrest
23	No trafficking / begar
24	No child labour (<14)
25	Profess / Propagate religion
26	Manage religious affairs
27	No tax for religion
28	Religious instruction
29	Minority interest protection
30	Minority educational institutions
32	Constitutional Remedies (SC)
226	High Court writs
300A	Right to Property (Legal)

⚖️ Fundamental Rights