Indian courts have held that socio-economic rights (food, health, education) under Directive Princip…

polity hard true_false

Indian courts have held that socio-economic rights (food, health, education) under Directive Principles are non-justiciable and cannot be enforced through writ petitions under Article 32 or 226.

True
False

Answer: False

Socio-economic rights justiciability evolution: (a) Traditional view: DPSP non-justiciable (Article 37); only FRs enforceable, (b) Expansive interpretation: Courts read DPSP into FRs: (i) Right to food: PUCL case (mid-day meals, PDS reforms), (ii) Right to health: Paschim Banga case (emergency care), (iii) Right to education: Unnikrishnan case leading to Article 21A, (c) Mechanism: Article 21 (life with dignity) interpreted to include basic needs; Article 14 (equality) requires substantive access to rights, (d) Limits: Courts recognize resource constraints; direct progressive realization, not immediate guarantee. Illustrates judicial creativity: making socio-economic rights enforceable through constitutional interpretation while respecting separation of powers.

Topic Rights Expansion - Socio-Economic Rights Justiciability

Exam Relevance Socio-economic rights enforcement critical for UPSC Mains and Judiciary exams

Quick Quiz Actions

Create a custom practice set

Weekly challenge coming soon

GK Question

Indian courts have held that socio-economic rights (food, health, education) under Directive Principles are non-justiciable and cannot be enforced through writ petitions under Article 32 or 226.