Page 94 - Sst Class - IX

4. Right against Exploitation

 Every citizen has a right not to be exploited. The Constitution has clear provisions to prevent
the exploitation of the weaker sections of society. The Constitution mentions three specific
evils as mentioned below and declares them illegal:
• The Constitution prohibits “traffic in human beings”. Traffic means the selling and buying
of human beings, usually women, for immoral purposes.

• Our Constitution 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.
• The Constitution prohibits child labour. Under this, no one can employ a child below the
age of 14 to work in any factory or mine or in any other hazardous work, such as railways
and ports.

5. Right to Freedom of Religion
 Every person has a right to profess, practice, and propagate the religion he or she believes in.

 India is a secular state which means India does not establish any one religion as the official
religion.
 Freedom to practice religion does not mean that a person can do whatever he wants in the
name of religion. For example, one cannot sacrifice animals or human beings as offerings to
supernatural forces or gods.

6. Cultural and Educational Rights
 Indian Constitution specifies the cultural and educational rights of the minorities:

• Any section of citizens with a distinct language or culture has the right to conserve it.
• Admission to any educational institution maintained by the government or receiving
government aid cannot be denied to any citizen on the grounds of religion or language.

• All minorities have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their
choice.

Right to Constitutional Remedies makes the other five Fundamental Rights effective. When any of
our rights are violated, we can seek a remedy through the courts. That is why Dr. Ambedkar called
the Right to Constitutional Remedies, “the heart and soul” of our Constitution.

• Fundamental Rights are guaranteed against the actions of the Legislatures, the Executive, and any
other authorities instituted by the government.

• There can be no law or action that violates the Fundamental Rights.
• If any act of the Legislature or the Executive takes away or limits any of the Fundamental Rights, it will
be invalid.

• Fundamental Rights are the source of all rights; our Constitution and law offer a wider range of rights.
• Over the years, the scope of rights has expanded. From time to time, the courts gave judgments to
expand the scope of rights.

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