CHETTINAD VIDYASHRAM
DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS (DP)
1. Explain the problems in Guantanamo Bay?
Ans:
a. 600 people were secretly picked up by the US forces from all over the world and they
were put in a prison near Cuba
b. This area was controlled by American Navy
c. Ana’s father Jamil-El Banna was one amongst those prisoners
d. The Americans had linked these people with the New York attack
e. The governments of their countries were not informed about their imprisonment
f. The families came to know only thro’ the media
g. Families, media, or even the UN representatives could not meet the prisoners
h. There was no trial nor could the prisoners approach the courts
2. What was the report given by the Amnesty International about the Guantanamo Bay?
Ans:
a. Amnesty International was an Human Rights Organization
b. It collected information of the prisoners in the Guantanamo Bay and reported that
prisoners were tortured
c. This violated the US laws
d. They were not given the treatment as per treaties
e. The prisoners went on a hunger strike but in vain
f. They were not released even after they were not found guilty
g. The UN secretary said that this prison should be closed down
h. But the US refused to listen to the pleas
3. What is the position of the citizens with regard to the government in Saudi Arabia?
Ans:
a. Saudi is ruled by a hereditary king, people have no role in electing or changing the
rulers
b. The king selects the legislature and the executive
c. Judges are appointed by the king and he can the decisions
d. Citizens cannot form political parties
e. Media cannot report
f. There is no freedom of religion
g. Every citizen is a Muslim. Non-Muslims have to practice their religion only secretly
h. Women have restrictions
i. The voice of one man is equal to the voice of two women
4. What led to the ethnic massacre in Kosovo in 1999?
Ans:
a. An Albanian family in Kosovo was attacked by the Serbians
b. A 77 year old man , Izet, was shot dead in front of his wife, Batisha Hoxha, her
husband was burnt too with the house
c. This old woman was left on the roads
d. This massacre was carried out by the army of their own country working under the
leader called Milosevic
e. This was one of the worst killing based on the ethnic prejudices
f. Finally other countries interfered to stop these massacres
g. Milosevic lost powers and tried in the court of justice for crimes against Humanity.
5. What are rights? How can we claim rights?
Ans:
a. Rights are claims of persons over others, over the society, over the government
b. All of us want to live happily without fear and without being degraded
c. We expect others to behave in which it does not hurt the others, our actions should
not hurt others
d. So a right is possible only when you can claim your rights if it is possible by others
e. You cannot play and break your neighbour’s window
f. Hence the Serbs could not claim the whole country for themselves
g. The claims should be reasonable
h. Thus right comes from an obligation to respect other’s rights
6. Why do we need rights in a democracy?
Ans:
a. Rights are needed for the survival of democracy
b. In a democracy every citizen has the right to vote, and the right to be elected
c. For democratic elections , citizens should have the rights to express their opinion ,
form political parties and take part in the political activities
d. Rights protect the minorities from the oppression of majority
7. What are Fundamental rights? Mention 6 Fundamental rights provided in the Constitution?
Ans:
a. In India, like all the other democracies, these rights are mentioned in the Constitution.
b. Some rights which are fundamental to our life are given special status
c. They are called Fundamental rights
d. The following are the 6 Fundamental rights
A. Right to equality
B. Right to freedom
C. Right against exploitation
D. Right to freedom of religion
E. Cultural and educational rights
F. Right to Constitutional remedies
8. What is rule of Law?
Ans:
a. The constitution says that the government shall not deny to any person in India
equality before the law or the equal protection of laws
b. It means that the laws apply in the same manner to all regardless of the person’s
status
c. This is called Rule of Law
9. What are the main features of Right to equality?
Ans:
a. The government shall not discriminate against any citizen on the grounds of religion,
race, caste, sex or birth place
b. Every citizen shall have access to public places like shops, restaurants, hotels and
cinema halls
c. No restrictions with regard to use wells, tanks, roads, playgrounds and public resorts,
places of the general public.
d. Equality to opportunity in matters regarding employment
e. No citizen shall be discriminated on basis of religion made ineligible to acquire an
employment
f. Various governments have different schemes for giving women and children
preference
g. Equality means giving everyone an equal opportunity
10. Why has the constitution made untouchability punishable offence?
Ans:
a. Constitution mentions one extreme form of social discrimination
b. This is untouchability
c. Constitution has clearly directs the government to bring an end to it
d. This is forbidden in any form
e. This is a punishable offence
11. ‘Right to freedom is the most important right ‘ , analyze the statement .
Ans:
a. Freedom means absence constraints
b. In practical it means absence of interference in our affairs, other individuals or the
government
c. Under the Indian Constitution all citizens have the right to:
Freedom of speech and expression
Assemble in a peaceful manner
Form associations and unions
Move freely throughout the country
Reside in any part of the country
Practice any profession
12. How can we say that freedom of speech and expression is one of the essential feature of
any democracy?
Ans:
a. Our ideas and personality develops only when we are able to freely communicate with
others
b. Even if a hundred people think in one way we should have a way of thinking differently
and express the views
c. We are free to criticize the government , you are free to publicize your views thro’
pamphlets, magazine, or newspapers
d. However you cannot use this freedom to instigate violence against others
13. What procedure should the citizen follow to get proper legal justification is he or she is
arrested?
Ans:
a. A person who is arrested and kept in custody will have to be informed of the reasons
for arrest
b. They should be produced before the nearest magistrate within 24 hours of arrest
c. Such a person has the right to consult a lawyer for his defense
14. Right against exploitation, practiced against 3 evils in the society. What are they?
Ans:
a. First the Constitution prohibits trafficking in human beings
b. Second our Constitution prohibits forced labor or beggar
c. Thirdly the constitution prohibits child labor
d. Trafficking means selling or buying human beings
e. Begar is a practice where labor is forced without wages
f. Child labor means children who work in hazardous factories
15. What is secularism? How did Indian Constitution make India a secular state?
Ans:
a. Secularism means that is based on the idea of the country is concerned with human
beings
b. It practices an attitude towards religions
c. The state has to be neutral and impartial in dealing with religions
d. Every person has the right to propagate, practice or profess the religion in which they
belief
e. A secular state means that no one favours a particular religion
f. Thus the government cannot compel any person to pay tax for religious institutions
g. No person will be compelled to take part in a particular religious worship
16. Why did Dr. B R Ambedhkar call the right to constitutional remedies the “ heart and soul of
our constitution” ?
Ans:
a. Right to Constitutional Remedies is a Fundamental right
b. This right makes other rights effective
c. Sometimes our rights violated by fellow citizens, government or private bodies.
d. We can seek remedy for this through courts
e. If it is a Fundamental right we can directly approach the Supreme court or High court
f. That is why Dr. B R Ambedkar called the right to constitutional remedies, ‘ the heart
and soul of our Constitution ‘
17. How does our constitution protect our right?
Ans:
a. If any act of the Legislature or Executive takes away any of the Fundamental rights it
will be invalid
b. The supreme court and high courts have the power to issue directives or writs for the
enforcement of the Fundamental rights
c. They can also punish the violators
d. Our judiciary is very powerful and can do whatever is needed to protect the rights of
citizens
e. In case of any violation the affected person can go to the court for remedy
18. What is PIL? How does it work?
Ans:
a. Any person can go to the court against the violation of the Fundamental right
b. It is of social interest or public interest
c. It is called Public Interest Litigation or PIL
d. Under this any citizen can approach the supreme court for the protection of public
interests against any law or action of the government
19. Write a note on National Human Rights Commission NHRC?
Ans:
a. National Human Rights commission set up by law 1993
b. Like the Judiciary, the Commission is independent , it is appointed by the President
and includes prominent citizens, retired judges, officers
c. It focusses on helping the victims secure human rights
d. It takes independent enquiries in any case of violation of human rights
e. Like any court it can summon witnesses, question any governmental official, demand
required papers, visit the prison for inspection.
20. Write a note on the International Covenant.
Ans:
The International Covenant recognizes many rights which is not a part of the
Fundamental rights in the Constitution.
Human rights people all over the world see it as a standard of human rights
Opportunity for everyone to earn a livelihood by working
Fair wages that can provide a decent standard of living
Adequate food, clothing and housing
Right to social security and insurance
Medical care during illness
Special care for women during childbirth
Free and compulsory education for primary level
Equal access to higher education
21. Mention the rights guaranteed by the Constitution of S. Africa to its citizens.
Ans:
The constitution of S. Africa guarantees certain rights to its citizens, they are as follows:
a. Right to privacy, so that citizens homes would not be searched, their phones cannot
be tapped
b. Right to environment, that is not harmful to their health
c. Right to have access to adequate housing
d. Right to have access to health care, sufficient food and water
e. Emergency medical treatment not denied