UPSC Express

Right to equality  

Art 14 : Law 

• Equal before law  
  • Negative
  • English const
  • Absence of any privileges
  • Law is supreme authority – govt subjected to law
  • Art 361 (exception for president and governor)
  • Dicey
    • No punishment unless law violated
    • Every one equal before law without discrimination
    • Law is the superior – const is superior in India
  • From Rex Lex to Lex Rex
• Equal protection of law 
  • Positive
  • American const
  • Equitable treatment
  • reservation to push backward ppl up
  • Treat likes alike, alikes not to be treated like

 

Art 15: Discrimination 

• No discrimination on the grounds of RRSCP
• Equal access to public places
• Women and children exception – reservation for Women
• Spc provision for edu and soc backward – SC ST
• Reservation for BC – edu
• Transgender rights reserved

Art 16: Employment Opportunity 

• Equal opportunity in public employment
• No discrimination on RRSCP + descents + residence
• Exception for residence and descendants discrimination in some cases
• Vertical reservation
  • Max reservation to be 50%
  • Additional reservation extended to women, military, sports etc..
• Horizontal reservation
  • Reservation within reservation
• Reservation to be state discretion – enabling clause
• Indra Swahney VS UOI 1992
• Carry forward policy for SC ST

Art 17: Untouchability 

• Removed
• Punishable
• Renamed to Civil rights Act
• Read about SC ST atrocities act

Art 18: Titles and rewards 

• Except awards and edu degrees, nothing to be displayed