Ch-6

Democratic Rights

[Link] citizen’s right in Saudi Arabia.

(i) The country is ruled by a hereditary king & the people have no role in electing or changing
their rulers.

(ii) The king selects the legislature as well as the executives. He appoints the judges & can
change any of their decisions.

(iii) Citizens cannot form political parties or any political organizations. Media cannot report
anything that the monarch does not like.

(iv) There is no freedom of religion. Every citizen is required to be Muslim. Non-Muslim

(v) Women are subjected to many public restrictions. The testimony of one man is
considered to that of two women.

[Link] are rights?

Rights are claims of a person over other fellow beings, over the society & over the
government.

[Link] do we need rights in democracy?

(i) Rights are necessary for very sustenance of a democracy.

(ii) Rights also perform a very special role in a democracy. Rights protect minorities from the
oppression of majority.

(iii) They ensure that the majority cannot do whatever it likes. Rights are guarantees which
can be used when things go wrong.

(iv) These are a significant check on the arbitrary use of power by the government.

(v)These provide civil liberties without which democracy cannot be establish.

Q4. What are Fundamental Rights?

Ans: Some rights which are fundamental to our life are given a special status. They are called
Fundamental Rights.

Q5. What is meaning of freedom?

Ans: Freedom means absence of constraints. In practical life it means absence of

Or

Rights to freedom is actually a cluster of six freedoms. Explain it

Ans:(i) Freedom of speech of expression

(ii) Assembly in a peaceful manner

(iii) Form associations of unions

(iv) Move freely throughout the country

(v) Reside in any part of the country

(vi) Practice any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business.

Q7. Under which circumstances can a person be deprived of his life or personal liberty.

Ans: The constitution says that no person can be deprived of his life or personal liberty
except according to procedure established by law. It means no person can be killed unless
the court has ordered a death sentence. It also means that a government or police officer
cannot arrest or detain any citizen unless he has proper legal justification.

Q8. Mention the Rights of a person arrested under Ordinary circumstances

(i) A person who is arrested or detained in custody will have to be informed of the reasons
for such arrest or detention.

(ii) A person who is arrested or detained shall be produced before the nearest magistrate
within a period of 24 hrs of arrest.

(iii) Such a person has the right to consult a lawyer or engage a lawyer for his defence.

Q9. Write a short note on Right to Equality.

(i) The constitution says that the government shall not deny to any person in India equality
before the law.

(ii) It means that no person is above the law. There cannot be any distinction between a
political leader, government official or an ordinary citizen.

(iii) The government shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion,
race, caste, sex or place of birth.

(iv) Every citizen shall have access to public place like shops, restaurants, hotels, & cinema
halls.

(v) The same principle applies to public jobs; all citizens have equality of opportunity in the
government jobs.
Q10. Mention any 2 exceptions to the Right to equality as fundamental right? Give reason
also.

Two exceptions are:

(i) Government can make special provisions for women & children.

(ii) Government can reserve some posts for members of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe &
Backward classes.

Reason: Sometimes it is necessary to give special treatment to someone in order to ensure

Q11. “India is a secular state.” Explain it

Or

Explain “Right to Freedom of Religion”

(i) A secular state is that state which has no official religion.

(ii) The state has to be neutral & impartial in dealing with religions.

(iii) Every person has right to profess, practice and propagate the religion he or she believes
in.

(iv) A secular state is one that does not favour any particular religion. Nor does it punish or
discriminate against people on the basis of religion.

(v) Government cannot take any religious tax.

Q12. Explain the “Right against Exploitation”

Or

Explain three evils which are declared illegal under “Right against Exploitation”?

Ans: The Constitution mentions three specific evils & declares them illegal:

(i) The constitution prohibits “trafficking human beings”. Trafficking here means selling &
buying of human beings, usually women, for immoral purpose.

(ii) Our constitution also prohibits forced labour or begar in any form. Begar is a practice
where the worker is forced to render service to the ‘master’, free of charge or at a nominal
remuneration. When this practice takes place on a life-long basis, it is called the practice of
bonded labour.

(iii) The constitution also prohibits child labour. No one can employ a child below the age of
fourteen to work in any factory or mine or in any other hazardous work, such as railways and
ports.

Q13. Write a short note on cultural & educational rights.

(i) Any section of citizens with a distinct language or culture have right to conserve it.

(ii) Admission to any educational institution cannot be denied to any citizen on the ground of
religion or language.

(iii) All minorities have the right to establish & administer educational institutions of their
choice.

[Link] the right which is called “The Heart & Soul of our Constitution.”

Write a short note on right to constitutional remedies.

(i) This right makes other rights effective.

(ii) It is possible that sometimes our rights may be violated by fellow citizens, private bodies
or by the government.

(iii) When any of our rights are violated we can seek remedy through courts.

(iv) If it is a Fundamental Right we can directly approach the Supreme Court or the High
Court of a state.

(v) That is why Dr. Ambedkar called the right to constitutional remedies “The Heart & Soul”
of our constitution.

[Link] some constitutional rights.

(i) Right to Vote

(ii) Right to Property

(iii) Right to Life

(iv) Right to Education

(v) Right to Information

(vi) Right to Freedom of Press

(vii) Right to Food

Q16. What is Public Interest Litigation?

Ans: Any person can go to court against the violation of the Fundamental Right, if it is of
social or public interest. It is called Public Interest Litigation (PIL). Under the PIL any citizen
can approach the Supreme Court or a High Court for the protection of public interest.

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.

Q17. Mention some Rights which the Constitution of South Africa guarantees to its citizens.
(i) Right to privacy, so that citizens or their home cannot be searched, their phones cannot
be tapped & their communications cannot be opened.

(ii) Right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being.

(iii) Right to have access to adequate housing.

(iv) Right to have access to health care services, sufficient food & water; no one may be
refused emergency medical treatment.