Class — IX
Chapter 5
Political Science - Democratic Rights
Q1. Explain Right to Freedom OR ‘Democracy cannot exist without freedom of the
individual’. Justify the statement.
A1.
a. Freedom means absence of constraints. The Indian Constitution guarantees to all its
citizens the right to-
I. Freedom of speech and expression
II. Assembly in a peaceful manner
III. Form associations and unions
IV. Move freely throughout the country
V. Reside in any part of the country, and
VI. Practice any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business.
b. The Constitution says that no person can be deprived of his life or personal liberty except
according to procedure established by law.
c. The government can impose certain reasonable restrictions on our freedoms in the larger
interests of the society. One cannot violate others’ right to freedom neither cause public nuisance
or disorder.
Q2. Explain the provisions in the Indian constitution to prevent exploitation of the weaker
sections of society.
A2. The Constitution mentions three specific evils and declares these illegal:
First, the Constitution prohibits ‘traffic in human beings’. Traffic here means selling and buying
of human beings, usually women, for immoral purposes.
Second, our Constitution also prohibits forced labor or begar in any form.
Finally, 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.
Q3. Write a short note on each of the following.
A. Freedom of Religion
I. Every person has a right to profess, practice and propagate the religion he or she believes
in.
II. A person is free to change religion on his or her own will.
III. One cannot sacrifice animals or human beings as offerings to supernatural forces or
Gods.
IV. Religious practices which treat women as inferior or those that infringe women’s freedom
are not allowed.
V. India is a Secular state that does not confer any privilege or favour on any particular
religion.
VI. There shall be no religious instruction in the government educational institutions
B. Right to Constitutional Remedies
I. Citizens enjoy the right to seek the enforcement of Fundamental rights. This is called the
Right to Constitutional Remedies which is itself a Fundamental Right.
II. This right makes other rights effective. It is a Fundamental Right and we can directly
approach the Supreme Court or the High Court.
III. That is why Dr. Ambedkar called the Right to Constitutional Remedies, ‘the heart and
soul’ of our Constitution.
IV. Fundamental Rights are guaranteed against the actions of the Legislatures, the Executive,
and any other authorities instituted by the government
C. Cultural and Educational Rights
The Constitution specifies the Cultural and Educational Rights of the minorities:
I. Any section of citizens with a distinct language or culture have a right to conserve it.
II. Admission to any educational institution maintained by the government or receiving
government aid cannot be denied to any citizen on the ground of religion or language.
III. All minorities have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their
choice (Here minority does not mean only religious minority at the national level)
D. Right to Equality
I. The Constitution says that the government shall not deny to any person in India equality
before the law or the equal protection of the laws. It means that the laws apply in the
same manner to all, regardless of a person’s status. This is called the rule of law.
II. The government shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion,
race, caste, sex or place of birth.
III. Every citizen shall have access to public places like shops, restaurants, hotels, and cinema
halls.
IV. All citizens have equality of opportunity in matters relating to employment or
appointment to any position in the government.
V. The Constitution has made untouchability a punishable offence.
E. National Human Rights Commission NHRC
I. It is an Independent Commission set up by law in 1993.
II. Like the Judiciary, the Commission is Independent of the Government. The Commission
is appointed by the President and includes retired judges, officers and eminent citizens.
III. The NHRC cannot by itself punish the guilty. That is the responsibility of courts. The
NHRC is there to make independent and credible inquiries into any case of violation of
human rights.
F. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights
This international covenant recognises many rights that are not directly a part of the Fundamental
Rights in the Indian Constitution. Human right activists all over the world see this as a standard
of human rights.
These include:
I. right to work:
II. right to safe and healthy working conditions, fair wages
III. right to adequate standard of living
IV. right to social security and insurance
V. right to health
VI. right to education
Q4. Define the following terms:
1. Amnesty International
An international organization of volunteers who campaign for human rights. This organization
brings out independent reports on the violation of human rights all over the world.
2. Claim
Demand for legal or moral entitlements a person makes on fellow citizens, society or the
government.
3. Dalit
A person who belongs to the castes which were considered low and not touchable by others.
Dalits are also known by other names such as the Scheduled Castes, Depressed Classes etc.
4. Traffic
Selling and buying of men, women or children for immoral purposes.
5. Summon
An order issued by a court asking a person to appear before it.
6. Writ
A formal document containing an order of the court to the government issued only by High
Court or the Supreme Court.
7. Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a human population whose members usually identify with each other on the
basis of a common ancestry. People of an ethnic group are united by cultural practices, religious
beliefs and historical memories.
8. Covenant
Promise made by individuals, groups or countries to uphold a rule or principle. It is legally
binding on the signatories to the agreement or statement.
Q5. Which rights are guaranteed by the constitution of South Africa?
The Constitution of South Africa guarantees its citizens several kinds of new rights:
I. Right to privacy.
II. Right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or wellbeing;
III. Right to have access to adequate housing.
IV. Right to have access to health care services, sufficient food and water; no one may be
refused emergency medical treatment.
