Rights in the Indian Constitution
NCERT Solutions • Class 11 Political Science • Chapter 2Objective Type Questions
1. Write true or false against each of these statements:
- (a) A Bill of Rights lays down the rights enjoyed by the people of a country. — True
- (b) A Bill of Rights protects the liberties of an individual. — True
- (c) Every country of the world has a Bill of Rights. — False (Many non-democratic countries lack this).
- (d) The Constitution guarantees remedy against violation of Rights. — True (Right to Constitutional Remedies).
2. Which of the following is the best description of Fundamental Rights?
(c) The rights given and protected by the Constitution.
Reason: Ordinary rights are protected by ordinary law, but Fundamental Rights are specifically entrenched in and protected by the Constitution itself.
Reason: Ordinary rights are protected by ordinary law, but Fundamental Rights are specifically entrenched in and protected by the Constitution itself.
4. Which of the following is a correct interpretation of the Cultural and Educational Rights?
(c) Linguistic and religious minorities can open schools for their children and keep it reserved for them.
Reason: Article 30 gives minorities the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice to preserve their culture.
Reason: Article 30 gives minorities the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice to preserve their culture.
5. Which of the following is a violation of Fundamental Rights and why?
(a) Not paying minimum wages.
Reason: This is a violation of the Right against Exploitation (Article 23). The Supreme Court has ruled that paying less than minimum wage amounts to ‘begar’ or forced labour.
Reason: This is a violation of the Right against Exploitation (Article 23). The Supreme Court has ruled that paying less than minimum wage amounts to ‘begar’ or forced labour.
Application & Analysis
3. Read the following situations. Which Fundamental Right is being used or violated in each case and how?
- (a) Overweight male cabin crew allowed promotion, women penalized:
Violated: Right to Equality (Articles 15 & 16). This is discrimination based on gender in matters of employment. - (b) Director makes a documentary criticizing government policies:
Used: Right to Freedom (Article 19). Specifically, the freedom of speech and expression. - (c) Displaced people take out a rally demanding rehabilitation:
Used: Right to Freedom (Article 19). Freedom to assemble peacefully and without arms, and to form associations. - (d) Andhra society runs Telugu medium schools outside Andhra Pradesh:
Used: Cultural and Educational Rights (Article 30). Right of linguistic minorities to establish educational institutions.
7. Scavenging caste groups forced to continue jobs; refused other jobs; children discouraged from education. Which Rights are violated?
Multiple Fundamental Rights are being violated here:
- Right to Equality (Article 17): Abolition of Untouchability (scavenging is historically linked to this practice).
- Right to Equality (Article 15): Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of caste.
- Right against Exploitation (Article 23): Prohibition of forced labour (being forced to continue the job).
- Right to Freedom (Article 19): Freedom to practice any profession.
- Right to Education (Article 21A): Children are being discouraged from schooling.
8. Petition on Starvation: Food grains stored vs. Hunger. (a) Rights involved? (b) Part of Right to Life?
(a) Rights Involved: The primary right involved is the Right to Life (Article 21). It is also linked to the Directive Principles which urge the state to raise the level of nutrition.
(b) Part of Right to Life?
Yes. In cases like PUCL vs. Union of India, the Supreme Court interpreted the “Right to Life” to mean a life with human dignity, which includes the Right to Food. The court ordered the government to utilize grain stocks to prevent starvation.
(b) Part of Right to Life?
Yes. In cases like PUCL vs. Union of India, the Supreme Court interpreted the “Right to Life” to mean a life with human dignity, which includes the Right to Food. The court ordered the government to utilize grain stocks to prevent starvation.
Debate & Opinion
6. Activist’s View: “Poor don’t need Fundamental Rights, they need Directive Principles to be legally binding.” Do you agree?
No, I do not agree.
While Directive Principles (welfare, wages, health) are crucial for the poor, Fundamental Rights are equally necessary.
While Directive Principles (welfare, wages, health) are crucial for the poor, Fundamental Rights are equally necessary.
- Without the Right against Exploitation (FR), the poor could be subjected to slavery or forced labour.
- Without the Right to Equality (FR), they could be discriminated against based on caste or religion.
- Fundamental Rights provide the legal shield against tyranny, while Directive Principles provide the goals for welfare. Both are complementary; one cannot replace the other.
9. Somnath Lahiri’s Statement (Rights framed from a police constable’s view). Do you agree?
Partial Agreement:
Somnath Lahiri criticized the Constitution for putting too many “reasonable restrictions” on Fundamental Rights.
Somnath Lahiri criticized the Constitution for putting too many “reasonable restrictions” on Fundamental Rights.
- Arguments For: Provisions like Preventive Detention (Article 22) allow the state to arrest people without trial, often used against political dissenters. The frequent use of Section 144 to stop assemblies also supports his view.
- Arguments Against: Restrictions are necessary to maintain public order, sovereignty, and integrity of India. Without them, liberty could turn into license and chaos.
10. Which Fundamental Right is the most important in your opinion? Why?
In my opinion, the Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32) is the most important.
Provisions: It allows citizens to move the Supreme Court directly if any of their Fundamental Rights are violated. The Court can issue writs (Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, etc.) to enforce rights.
Why it is most important:
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar called it the “Heart and Soul of the Constitution”. Without this right, all other rights (Equality, Freedom, Religion) would be mere paper declarations. It provides the mechanism to punish the state if it acts illegally, making rights a reality.
In my opinion, the Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32) is the most important.
Provisions: It allows citizens to move the Supreme Court directly if any of their Fundamental Rights are violated. The Court can issue writs (Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, etc.) to enforce rights.
Why it is most important:
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar called it the “Heart and Soul of the Constitution”. Without this right, all other rights (Equality, Freedom, Religion) would be mere paper declarations. It provides the mechanism to punish the state if it acts illegally, making rights a reality.