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Showing posts with the label Article 21 of Indian ConstitutionRight to Life and Personal LibertyEvolution of Fundamental RightsManeka Gandhi caseRight to Privacy IndiaLandmark Supreme Court JudgmentsHuman Rights in IndiaIndian

The Evolution of Article 21: Life, Liberty, and Beyond

The Evolution of Article 21: Life, Liberty,  Introduction The Indian Constitution is a living document, constantly evolving to match the aspirations of its people. Among its most dynamic provisions is Article 21 , which simply states: "No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law." But over time, this simple sentence has transformed into a guardian of countless human rights. The Early Interpretation: A Narrow Scope Initially, the interpretation of Article 21 was limited. In A.K. Gopalan vs State of Madras (1950) , the Supreme Court ruled that as long as a law existed, even if it was unfair, deprivation of liberty was valid. Life and liberty were treated narrowly—just physical existence and freedom from detention. A Turning Point: Maneka Gandhi Case The real shift came in Maneka Gandhi vs Union of India (1978) . The court broadened the scope of Article 21, stating that any law depriving a perso...