Article 21 guarantees the fundamental right to life and personal liberty.
It states that no person can be deprived of their life or liberty except by due process of law.
What does this mean?
- This means that a person’s life and personal liberty can only be disputed if they have committed a crime.
- This includes the right to live with dignity, the right to livelihood, and the right to a healthy environment.
Other important information :
- The 86th Amendment Act of 2002 added Article 21-A to the Constitution, which guarantees the right to education for children between the ages of 6 and 14.
- The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 decriminalized suicide in India.
- The Supreme Court has ruled that non-payment of minimum wages to workers is a violation of Article 21.
- The Supreme Court has also ruled that a person cannot be deprived of their right to travel abroad based on property disputes.