Democratic Rights
Question 1: Define Fundamental Rights.
Answer: The Fundamental Rights are those basic conditions which are considered essential for
the overall development of a person. These are guaranteed under the Constitution.
Question 2: ‘Some rights need to be placed higher than the government’. Give reason.
Answer: Thought it is the duty of each democratic government to protect the citizen’s rights
but sometimes elected governments may not protect or may even attack the rights of their own
citizens. That is why some rights need to be placed higher than the government, so that the
government cannot violate these.
Question 3: What is Public Interest Litigation?
Answer: Under the PIL, any citizen or group of citizens can approach the Supreme Court or a
High Court for the protection of public interest against a particular law or action of the
government. One can write to the judges even on a postcard. The court will take up the matter
if the judges find it in public interest.
Question 4 : Mention the three evils which have been declared illegal under Right Against
Exploitation.
Answer: [Link] in human beings.
2. Forced labour or begar in any form.
3. Child labour.
Question 5: India is a secular state’. Justify by giving examples.
Answer: [Link] of India are free to follow any religion.
[Link] doesn’t have any official religion.
[Link] religious group or sect is free to manage its religious affairs.
Question 6: “Saudi Arabia is not a democratic country”. Justify. Mention any two rights which
are enjoyed by the Indian citizens but not by citizens of Saudi Arabia.
Answer : [Link] country is ruled by a hereditary king and the people: have no role in electing or
changing their rulers.
[Link] king selects the legislature as well as the executive. He appoints the judges and can
change any of their decisions.
3. Citizens cannot form political parties or any political organisations.
Rights enjoyed by Indians but not by Saudi Arabians-
[Link] 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.
2. Women are subjected to many public restrictions. The testimony of one man is considered
equal to that of two women.
Question 7: State any three rights guaranteed by the Constitution of South Africa.
Answer: 1. Right to privacy, so that citizens or their home cannot be searched, their phones
cannot be tapped, their communication cannot be opened.
2. Right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well being.
3. Right to have access to adequate housing.
Question 8: Mention any three rights of a detained person.
Answer: 1. To be informed of the reason of arrest and detention.
2. To be produced before the nearest magistrate within 24 hours of arrest.
3. Right to consult a lawyer or engage a lawyer for his defence.
Question 9: Mention the restrictions that can be imposed on various forms of freedoms
granted by the Constitution.
Answer: [Link] of speech and expression — reasonable restrictions can be imposed on this
freedom.
2. Restriction on freedom to hold meetings, processions, rallies and demonstrations and
reasonable restriction in the interest of public order.
3. Restrictions on freedom to form associations and unions in the interest of public order,
morality of sovereignty or integrity of India.
Question 10: What was the Amnesty International’s report regarding the prisoners in
Guantanamo Bay? State the condition of prisoners according to the report of Amnesty
International in Guantanamo Bay.
Answer: Amensty International which is an international human rights organisation, collected
information in Guantanamo Bay and reported:-
1. Families of prisoners, media or even UN representatives were not allowed to meet these
prisoners. The US army arrested them, interrogated them and decided whether to keep them
there or not.
2. There was no trial before any magistrate in the US. Nor could these prisoners approach
courts in their own country.
3. The prisoners were being tortured in ways that violated United States Laws.