Right to freedom
Also called: Articles 19-22 · Topic: Fundamental Rights and Constitutional Remedies · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 10 "The Constitution of India: An Introduction"; Class 9, Ch 6 "Democracy"; Class 11, Ch 2 "Rights in the Indian Constitution"
Meaning
The right to freedom is a group of fundamental rights in Articles 19 to 22. It tries to balance one person's liberty with other people's liberty and with public order. The group includes:
- Art. 19: six freedoms of citizens. These are speech and expression; assembly; forming associations, unions and cooperatives; movement; residence; and profession.
- Art. 20: protection in criminal convictions.
- Art. 21: life and personal liberty.
- Art. 21A: education for children aged 6 to 14.
- Art. 22: protection against arbitrary arrest and detention.
Example
Article 19 first had seven freedoms. The right to property, Article 19(1)(f), was removed by the 44th Amendment in 1978. The 97th Amendment in 2011 added cooperatives to Article 19(1)(c).
Don't confuse with
- Who holds the rights: Article 19 protects only citizens. Articles 20, 21, 21A and 22 protect every person.
- Emergency rules: Articles 20 and 21 can never be suspended. Article 19 is suspended automatically only in an emergency declared for war or external aggression.
Related concepts
- Freedom of speech and expression
- Freedom of the press
- Reasonable restrictions
- Restrictions on freedom of speech
- Romesh Thappar case
- Kedar Nath Singh case
- Sedition
- Criminal defamation
- Shreya Singhal case
- Bijoe Emmanuel case