Development And Human Dignity: Understanding The RTD From An Indian Perspective
- IJLLR Journal
- May 10
- 1 min read
Mr. Swetketu Das, Assistant Professor, School of Legal Studies, The Neotia University
ABSTRACT
The Right to Development (RTD), though recognized as an inalienable collective human right, lacked a clear definition until the 1986 United Nations Declaration, which first codified it under Article 1.1. Despite its integration into core human rights instruments such as the ICCPR and ICESCR, the 1986 Declaration and subsequent frameworks like the Millennium Development Goals remain non-binding. Varying interpretations—particularly utilitarian approaches—have led to friction between collective and individual rights. Furthermore, geopolitical divisions have politicized the RTD discourse: developed nations use it to demand accountability, while developing states advocate for flexibility in international obligations. These tensions have undermined the Declaration’s impact, rendering it largely symbolic. However, the recent proposal of a Draft Convention on RTD marks a critical shift in global consensus. For India, this presents an opportunity to reaffirm its commitment, with RTD principles implicitly embedded in Parts III and IV of the Constitution and reinforced through proactive judicial interpretation by the Supreme Court. This paper thus seeks to explore the Right to Development within the Indian context, examining both judicial and policy efforts to uphold this right and considering its future scope in the evolving international landscape.
Keywords: Right to Development, Third Generation Human Rights, Fundamental Rights, Human Rights, Fundamental Freedom.
