About:
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- Article 51A- Part IV(A) of the constitution
- Not in the original Constitution
- Added by 42nd Amendment on recommendation of Swaran singh committee.
- Non-enforceable and non-justiciable in nature
- Inspired from USSR
- Applicable only to citizens
| Articles | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Article 51 a | to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem |
| Article 51 b | to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom |
| Article 51 c | to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India |
| Article 51 d | to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so |
| Article 51 e | to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women |
| Article 51 f | to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture |
| Article 51 g | to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures |
| Article 51 h | to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform |
| Article 51 i | to safeguard public properly and to abjure violence |
| Article 51 j | to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement |
| Article 51 k | who is a parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to hi s child or, as the case may be, ward between the age of six and fourteen years |
Related case laws:
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- Chandra Bhavan Boarding and Lodging vs State of Mysore (1969)- FDs play an important role in the governance of country.
- SC in 1992: Laws that seek to give effect to FDs will be considered reasonable (related to Article 14 & 19) and constitutional.
- Shri Ranganath Mishra vs Union Of India (2003)- FDs be upheld not just through legal sanctions but also social sanctions.
- AIIMS Students Union vs AIIMS (2001)- Both FRs and FDs are equally important.
Significance:
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- Promotes a sense of civic consciousness and responsibility among citizens
- Respect for ideals of Constitution and national symbols
- Rational development through scientific temper
- Strikes a balance between rights and responsibilities
- Guiding principles for lawmakers and policymakers
Criticism:
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- Constitution known for rights not duties
- Most major Constitutions like US Constitution, do not specify duties
- Democracy is by the people so people cannot be reminded of their duties
- Vagueness in FDs like composite culture, spirit of freedom struggle movement, scientific temper etc.
- Added by an amendment
Relevance:
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- Bombay High Court highlighted the importance of fundamental duties in context of COVID pandemic.
- Destruction of public property during protests.
- Resource scarcity and un-civilized behavior act as hindrance in development.
- Greater emphasis on decentralized, people-led development.
