Article 14th of the Indian Constitution | Equality before the law

 Article 14 of the Indian Constitution |  Equality before the law :

Article 14 of the Indian Constitution is a fundamental right that guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the laws for all individuals in India. It is a part of Part III of the Constitution, which deals with fundamental rights.

Article 14 states:

In the territory of India, the State shall not deprive any individual of the right to equality before the law or the equitable safeguarding of the laws.

This article ensures that all individuals, irrespective of their caste, religion, gender, race, or place of birth, are treated equally by the law. It prohibits any form of discrimination and ensures that the state does not differentiate between individuals in the application of laws.

According to Article 14, the principle of equality is not without limitations but rather takes into account reasonable classification. This implies that the government has the authority to establish reasonable classifications, as long as they are based on clear distinctions and have a logical connection with the intended objective. Essentially, any classification should be grounded on a reasonable and justifiable foundation, avoiding arbitrariness or discrimination.

Article 14 has been interpreted by the judiciary to include the principle of non-arbitrariness. This means that any action taken by the state must be reasonable, fair, and non-arbitrary. It also includes the principle of procedural fairness, ensuring that individuals are provided with a fair and just procedure in any legal or administrative process.

Article 14 of the Constitution of India, adopted in 1950, enshrines the principle of equality before the law and equal protection of the laws within the territory of India. However, its origins can be traced back to the Draft Constitution of 1948, where it was initially included in Draft Article 15 (Article 21). Draft Article 15 encompassed the protection of life, liberty, and equality before the law, stating that no person shall be deprived of their life or liberty except through a lawful process and that no person shall be denied equality before the law or equal protection of the law within India.

Discussions surrounding Draft Article 15 took place on 6 and 13 December 1948, focusing primarily on its first part. The second part, about "equality before the law," was not subjected to substantial deliberation.

When presenting the revised Draft Constitution to the President of the Constituent Assembly on 3 November 1949, the Drafting Committee proposed splitting this article into two parts. The latter part, addressing "equality before the law," was transferred to a new article, namely Article 14, which fell under the heading of "Right to Equality." Consequently, Article 14 was introduced into the Constitution of India in 1950.

Overall, Article 14 of the Indian Constitution plays a crucial role in upholding the principle of equality and ensuring that the state treats all individuals equally and without discrimination before the law.

भारतीय सविंधान का अनुच्छेद -14 | कानून के समक्ष समानता 

भारतीय संविधान के अनुच्छेद 14 विवरण देता है कि, "न्यायपालिका द्वारा किसी भी नागरिक को भेदभाव न करते हुए समानता का अवसर देने का अधिकार होगा।" इस अनुच्छेद के अनुसार, सभी नागरिकों को समानता के अवसर का अधिकार है और किसी भी प्रकार के भेदभाव के खिलाफ सुरक्षित रहने का अधिकार है।

इस अनुच्छेद के तहत, सरकार और न्यायपालिका को सभी नागरिकों के लिए समानता का आदान-प्रदान करने की जिम्मेदारी होती है। यह मतलब होता है कि कोई भी व्यक्ति जाति, धर्म, लिंग, वर्ग, या किसी अन्य प्रकार के भेदभाव के कारण किसी भी तरह की न्यायिक या कानूनी दुरुपयोग से पीड़ित नहीं होना चाहिए।

इस अनुच्छेद के माध्यम से, समानता के सिद्धांत को सुरक्षित किया जाता है और नागरिकों को विभिन्न क्षेत्रों में समान अवसर प्रदान करने का आदेश दिया जाता है। इसके अलावा, अनुच्छेद 15 और 16 भी अनुच्छेद 14 के साथ जुड़े होते हैं और सामान्य बातचीत में जनसंख्या के लिए कोटा और सरकारी नौकरियों में अनुसूचित जातियों और अनुसूचित जनजातियों को आरक्षण प्रदान करने के प्रावधान के बारे में भी व्याख्यान करते हैं।

इस प्रकार, भारतीय संविधान के अनुच्छेद 14 संविधानिक रूप से समानता के मूल सिद्धांत को संरक्षित करने का आदेश देता है और सभी नागरिकों को समानता का अवसर प्रदान करने की गारंटी देता है।