DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS
Q 1. What are ‘Rights’? Why some Rights are called ‘Fundamental Rights’?
Ans. Rights are reasonable claims of persons recognized by society and sanctioned by law.
Some Rights which are fundamental to our lives are given a special status. They are called Fundamental
Rights. They are those basic conditions which are considered essential to be provided to a person for his
all-round development. These rights have been given to the citizen by the Constitution. No Govt can
abolish them. No democratic Govt can function without giving these ‘Rights’ to the citizens.
[Link] Rights are mentioned in the Constitution? Explain each in one or two sentences.
Ans. 1. Right to Equality:-It means that the laws apply in the same manner to all, regardless of a
person’s status. The Govt shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds of religion, caste,
ethnicity, sex or place of birth.
2. Right to Freedom:- Under the Indian Constitution all citizens have the right to:-a)Freedom of speech
and expression, Assembly in a peaceful manner, Form associations and unions, Move freely throughout
the country, Reside in any part of the country and Practice any profession, or to carry on any occupation,
trade or business. 3.
Right against Exploitation: - Constitution prohibits selling and buying of human beings, forced labour,
and Child labour.
4. Cultural and Educational Rights: - According to this right any section of citizens have a right to
conserve their distinct language or culture. b) Admission to any educational institution cannot be denied
on the ground of religion or language. c) All minorities have the right to establish and administer
educational institutions of their choice.
5 Right to freedom of Religion:-India has no official religion . Every Person has a right to profess,
practice and propagate the religion he/she believes in.
6 Right to Constitutional Remedies:-When any of our rights are violated we can seek remedy through
courts. We can directly approach Supreme Court or High Court of the state.
Q [Link] did Ambedkar call ‘the Right to Constitutional Remedies’ ‘the heart and soul’ of our
Constitution?
Ans. Right to Constitutional Remedies is in fact the guardian of all other Fundamental Rights. Without
this right all other rights lose their significance. This right is the only guarantee against the
encroachment on our Fundamental Rights. Without this right other rights would become meaningless. If
it is a Fundamental Right we can directly approach the Supreme Court or the High court of the state.
That is why Ambedkar called it the heart and soul ‘of our constitution.
Q4. What is a secular state?
Ans. 1.A Secular state does not have any official religion.
2. The state does not confer any privilege or favour on any particular religion.
3. It does not punish or reward anyone on the basis of religion.
4. Every person has a right to profess, practice and propagate the religion he/she believes in.
Q5. Why the Rights need to be mentioned in the Country’s Constitution?
Ans. Rights need to be mentioned in the Constitution for the following reasons:-
1. It is the duty of a democratic govt to protect the citizen’s rights.
2. But sometimes elected governments may not protect or may even attack the rights of their
citizens.
3. That is why some rights need to be placed above the govt so that the govt cannot violate these.
Q 6. How were the prisoners treated in Guantanamo Bay?
Ans:-The prisoners in Guantanamo Bay were denied basic human rights.
1. There was no trial before any magistrate in the US. They were tortured in the ways that violated
the laws.
2. Guantanamo Bay was not located in the US. It was an area near Cuba controlled by American
Navy, so nobody knew the location of the prison.
3. Families of prisoners, media or even the UN representatives were not allowed to meet the
prisoners.
4. They were not able to represent their case in any court.
Q 7. What was the basic reason for the ethnic massacre in Kosovo?
Ans:-Kosovo was a province of Yugoslavia before its split. Here, the population was overwhelmingly
ethnic Albanian.
But, in the entire country, Serbs were in majority. A narrow-minded Serb nationalist Milosevic
had won the election.
His government was very hostile to the Kosovo Albanians. He wanted the Serbs to dominate the
country.
Many Serb leaders thought that Ethnic minorities like Albanians should either leave the country
or accept the dominance of the Serbs.
This massacre was being carried out by the army of their own country, working under the
direction of a leader who came to power through democratic elections.
This was one of the worst instances of killings based on ethnic prejudices in recent times.
Finally, several other countries intervened to stop this massacre. Milosevic lost power and was
tried by an International Court of Justice for crimes against humanity.
Q 8. Describe the citizen’s condition in Saudi Arabia.
Ans:-The country is ruled by a hereditary king and the people have no role in electing or changing their
rulers.
2. The king selects the legislature as well as the executive.
3. He appoints the judges and can change any of their decisions.
4. Citizens cannot form political parties or any political organizations.
5. Media cannot report anything that the monarch does not like.
6. There is no freedom of religion. Every citizen is required to be Muslim. Non-Muslim residents can
follow their religion in private, but not in public.
7. Women are subjected to many public restrictions. The testimony of one man is considered equal to
that of two women.