A Short Note on Right to Equality

The third section of the constitution provides several fundamental rights to every Indian citizen, regardless of caste, ethnicity, place of origin, gender, or religion. These, according to Dr B. R. Ambedkar, are the most citizen-friendly aspects of the Constitution. The fundamental rights are considered a crucial aspect of the constitution because they safeguard people’s rights and freedoms against abuse or interference by the government given the authority assigned to it within a democracy. These rights attempt to accomplish the values of justice, equality, liberty, dignity and fraternity outlined inside the Preamble.

Everyone in society must be treated fairly and also without prejudice for democracy to grow and develop. Thus, the writers of the Constitution believed that including such a clause would eliminate the barrier of existing socioeconomic and cultural disparities and allow the nation’s different groups to embrace the liberties and rights provided by the constitution. It became critical to eliminate inequities based on religious beliefs, social standards, and age-old practices prevalent in areas of India, such as casteism, untouchability, and racial discrimination. This gave rise to the Right to Equality clause.

Right to Equality

• The right to equality guarantees equal treatment to all people by prohibiting legal discrimination based solely on class, ethnicity, religion, gender, or birthplace
• It is regarded as a fundamental component of the constitution
• The right to equality includes both positive and negative equality – necessitates equal treatment as well as forbids uneven treatment
• The Right to Equality includes Articles 14 – 18

• Right to Equality under Article 14 – 

Article 14 embodies the concept of equality, stating that the government must not deprive any individual of equal treatment under the law as well as guarantee equal rights within India. Everyone has the right to equal treatment under the law, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, or nationality.

Equality under Law – 

• This means that no one has any unique rights or benefits
• There is no prejudice in the eyes of the court based on irrelevant factors such as status, position, and so on
• Declares that all individuals, regardless of status or position, are susceptible to the exclusive jurisdiction of regular courts

Equal legal protection under the law – 

• It is a logical extension of equal treatment under the law
• It specifies that all individuals inside the legal boundaries shall be afforded equal protection
• This indicates that such security must be provided without regard for favour or prejudice
• This entails fair treatment in identical situations, both in terms of legal rights and duties
• It is the government’s affirmative responsibility, which it must fulfil by enacting essential economic and social reforms, to ensure that everyone receives such equitable protection

• Right to Equality under Article 15 – 

• Article 15 stipulates that the government guarantees equal rights and shall not prejudice any individual solely based on religious practice, class, gender, birthplace, or any combination of these factors and that such citizens should not be susceptible to any disability, limitation, disability, or precondition
• Nothing about this article limits the nation’s power to provide specific arrangements for children as well as women

• Equality of opportunity regarding public employment under Article 16 – 

• Article 16 declares that no individual should be disqualified for or prejudiced against in any government occupation or position solely based on religious belief, ethnicity, class, gender, ancestry, birthplace, residency, or any combination of these factors
• It authorises Parliament to enact legislation requiring residency in that UT or state before appointment or employment in that UT or state
• It permits the state government to create specific measures for the reservation of jobs or positions in support of backward sections

• Abolition of Untouchability under Article 17 – 

• Article 17 effectively nullifies and outlaws the practice of untouchability in every manner
• Untouchability is known to be a socially constructed concept that puts down specific disadvantaged classes simply based on their origin and discriminates against them based on that

• Abolition of Titles under Article 18 – 

• Article 18 negates all ranks and forbids the government from bestowing titles upon anyone, resident or non-citizen
• Armed services and educational achievements, on the other hand, are excluded from the restriction

Underlying Principle

• The core premise underpinning the right to equality is just not fair treatment for everyone, but rather equal treatment for features that are identical and varied treatment for distinctive elements, since not all persons are alike in every way
• To eliminate disparities, there must be some fair classification of persons so that strategies may be developed to help reduce inequities as much as feasible

Conclusion

The right to equality is seen as a fundamental aspect of our constitution, and it serves a significant role in establishing economic and social fairness in our country, wherein the upliftment of some sections is regarded as essential for our nation’s survival. It places considerable emphasis on people’s underlying unity by offering equal opportunity and dignity to everyone. The right to equality is the foundation for all other rights and benefits. It offers all of the ingredients required for the formation of a nation’s individuality to each person inside it.

As a result, courts that have been deemed the Constitution’s defenders ensure that this right to equality is defined broadly in order to attain the purposes envisioned by our constitution’s founders.