Right To Live With Dignity Under Article 21 Of The Constitution Of India - A Detailed Study

Muffliha Sadaf, BBA.LLB (Hons), Bharath Institute of Law, Chennai-600073

ABSTRACT

One of the most basic elements of human existence is the right to live a free, complete, and dignified life. Every individual has the right to conduct their lives on their terms, free of unjustified interference from others. A strong democracy can only exist if its inhabitants have the right to defend their own lives and liberties. In India, citizens have the right to life and personal liberty, which is guaranteed under Part III of the Indian Constitution of 1950. These Fundamental Rights embody the people's core principles and are protected from governmental acts, meaning that no official authority can violate a citizen's fundamental rights unless the method set by the Constitution is followed. As a result, this Article bans the state from infringing on a person's right to life and personal liberty. The term "state" refers to all bodies with statutory power, such as the federal and state governments, municipal governments, and so on. As a result, private entities' violations of the right are not covered. The phrases 'life' and 'personal liberty' refer to a wide range of citizens rights that have emerged as a result of the courts' evolving interpretation of Article 21 throughout time. We'll look at the many components of this Fundamental Right below, but first, let's take a look at the concept's jurisprudential history and the relevance of one of the most renowned decisions on the case of Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978)1.

In this paper, the author intends to throw light on article 21 and its interpretations in an elucidated manner.

Keywords: fundamental rights, personal liberty, right to life, dignity, the constitution of India.