Constitution Day 2023: Rights Every Indian should know
Constitution Day, also known as Samvidhan Divas or National Law Day, is celebrated on November 26 in India. It commemorates the day the Constituent Assembly of India adopted the Constitution, which officially came into effect on January 26, 1950. Recognising the significance of this day, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, on November 19, 2015, declared the 26th of November as Constitution Day to foster an understanding of constitutional values among citizens.
Constitution Day 2023 : Importance
The decision to celebrate Constitution Day was taken to pay tribute to Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, the creator of the Indian Constitution. The Constitution of India contains many principles, on the basis of which the fundamental, political principles, procedures, rights, guidelines, laws etc. have been decided for the government and citizens of the country.
Fundamental rights every citizen should know
- Right to Equality: The Constitution ensures no person is denied equality before the law or equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.
- Right to Freedom: As per the Indian Constitution, citizens are entitled to exercise their freedom of speech and expression, peacefully assemble, create associations or unions, move freely within the Indian territory, reside and settle in any part of the country, and pursue any profession, occupation, trade or business of their choice.
- Right Against Exploitation: The Constitution prohibits practices such as human trafficking and forced labour, with contraventions being offences punishable by law.
- Right to Freedom of Religion: Every citizen is entitled to freedom of conscience and has the right to freely profess, practice and propagate their religion. They also have the right to manage religious affairs and establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes.
- Right to Life: Protection against excessive punishment is guaranteed under the right to life and personal liberty. No one can be subjected to punishment exceeding what the law prescribes at the time of the crime.
- Cultural and Educational Rights: Sections of citizens with distinct languages, scripts or cultures have the right to conserve the same. Minorities, based on religion or language, have the right to establish and administer educational institutions without discrimination.
- Right to Constitutional Remedies: Article 32 provides a guaranteed remedy for the enforcement of all fundamental rights. The Supreme Court is designated as the protector of these rights and can issue writs for their enforcement.
- Right to Privacy: Protected as an intrinsic part of the right to life and personal liberty, the right to privacy shields individuals from interference by both State and non-state actors, allowing for autonomous life choices.
- Right to Free Legal Aid: Under Section 39A of the Constitution of India, the right to free legal aid is enshrined to ensure that individuals who cannot afford legal services have access to justice.
- Right to File An FIR: In India, individuals have the legal right to file a First Information Report (FIR) at a police station, and no police officer is allowed to refuse to register it. This right is safeguarded by Section 166 of the Indian Penal Code, which addresses the punishment for a “public servant disobeying the law with the intent to cause injury to any person.” This legal provision ensures that any police officer refusing to register an FIR can face penalties, including imprisonment for up to one year, a fine, or both.
- Right to Information: The Right to Information Act (RTI Act) in India grants every citizen the valuable right to seek information from any public authority. This encompasses a broad range of details, including government activities, policies, actions, and decisions.
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