Human Rights In India: The Protective Umbrella Of Article 21

Abstract

Article 21 of the Indian constitution that provides a right to life and personal liberty has evolved considerably becoming one o the most powerful provisions in the human rights system in India. Judicial interpretations of the years have broadened its scope to encompass a full range of derivative rights imperative to the protection of human dignity, which it was initially conceived as being a narrow procedural protection. Such rights are not limited to the civil and political liberties but they also entail the socio-economic, cultural, and environmental rights which is a holistic understanding of the right to life. The paper will take a doctrinal and analytical study on the constitutional basis, landmark Supreme Court decisions, and academic views that have influenced the ever-changing outlines of Article 21. Through a review of patterns in judicial thinking and the data pertaining to the institution in question, the paper has brought out the transformative aspect of Article 21 in curbing the modern issues of human rights such as privacy, health, education and livelihood. Moreover, the study provides key information about the importance of Article 21 as an umbrella of protection that incorporates several aspects of human rights, where all individuals can enjoy justice, equality, and freedom, especially the marginalized and vulnerable groups. Although it has been improving, some issues have remained, which include enforcement gaps and the necessity to ensure that judicial vigilance should be constant so as to respond to the new socio-legal problems. All in all, Article 21 is still keeping its place in the ethos of the Constitution of India, and it strengthens the belief in human dignity and offers flexible guidelines on how rights should be promoted and safeguarded in the fast-evolving society.