Article 14 (Equality Before Law)
Definition
Guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the laws to all persons within Indian territory; bans arbitrary State action.
- Instrument
- Constitution of India
- Part
- Part III (Fundamental Rights)
- Guarantee
- Equality before law and equal protection of laws
- Scope
- All persons within Indian territory, not just citizens
Common questions
How does Article 14 constrain forensic procedure specifically?+
Courts use it to strike down arbitrary or unequal application of investigative powers, for example differential treatment of accused persons in sample collection or testing without a rational basis connected to the purpose of the law.
Does equality before law mean identical treatment in every case?+
No. Courts read it as permitting reasonable classification: different treatment is allowed if it rests on an intelligible differentia that has a rational nexus to the law's object, rather than requiring uniform treatment regardless of circumstance.
Related terms
- Article 13
- Declares that laws inconsistent with or in derogation of fundamental rights are void to the extent of inconsistency; the textual basis for...
- Article 15
- Prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.
- Article 16
- Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment.
- Article 17
- Abolishes untouchability; enforced through the Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955 and the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989.
- Article 19
- Six freedoms for citizens: speech and expression, peaceful assembly, association, movement, residence, and profession or trade, subject to reasonable restrictions.
- Article 20(3) (Self-Incrimination)
- No person accused of an offence shall be compelled to be a witness against himself; the textual basis for the bar on...
- Article 21 (Life and Personal Liberty)
- No person shall be deprived of life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law; expanded by Maneka Gandhi 1978...
- Article 22
- Protection against arrest and detention: grounds of arrest, right to counsel, production before a magistrate within 24 hours; preventive-detention safeguards in clauses...
- Due Process (Indian Gloss)
- Post-Maneka Gandhi reading of Article 21 that the procedure depriving liberty must be fair, just and reasonable, not merely a procedure prescribed...
- Fundamental Right
- A justiciable right guaranteed under Part III of the Constitution, enforceable by writ in the Supreme Court (Article 32) and the High...
- Judicial Review
- Power of the Supreme Court and High Courts to test legislation and executive action against the Constitution, drawn from Articles 13, 32,...