Directive Principles of Policy

• • Article 44 is part of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP), which are guidelines for the government, not legally enforceable like Fundamental Rights. 

• • Article 44 is part of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP), which are guidelines for the government, not legally enforceable like Fundamental Rights. 

• • Article 44 is part of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP), which are guidelines for the government, not legally enforceable like Fundamental Rights. 

Directive Principles of State Policy are contained in Part-IV of the constitution and can only be amended by a simple majority. DPSP is borrowed from Ireland. DPSPs are used as a yardstick to measure the performance of govt. Unlike Fundamental Rights, DPSPs are not enforceable in court.

1. Dr B.R. Ambedkar described these principles as ‘Novel Features’ of the Indian Constitution.
2. Granville Austin has described the Directive Principles of State Policy and Fundamental Rights as the ‘Conscience of the Constitution’.

1. The state should promote social, economic, and political justice
2. The state should minimize income inequalities
3. The state should eliminate inequalities in status, facilities, and opportunities
4. The state should increase employment opportunities
5. The state should promote and protect law and order
6. The state should maintain harmony among the people

39. Certain principles of policy to be followed by the State

The State shall, in particular, direct its policy towards securing--

1. that the citizens, men and women equally, have the right to an adequate means to livelihood;
2. that the ownership and control of the material resources of the community are so distributed as best to sub serve the common good;
3. that the operation of the economic system does not result in the concentration of wealth and means of production to the common detriment;
4. that there is equal pay for equal work for both men and women;
5. that the health and strength of workers, men and women, and the tender age of children are not abused and that citizens are not forced by economic necessity to enter avocations unsuited to their age or strength;
6. that children are given opportunities and facilities to develop in a healthy manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity and that childhood and youth are protected against exploitation and against moral and material abandonment.

39A. Equal justice and free legal aid

The State shall secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice, on a basis of equal opportunity, and shall, in particular, provide free legal aid, by suitable legislation or schemes or in any other way, to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities.

39A. Equal justice and free legal aid

The State shall secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice, on a basis of equal opportunity, and shall, in particular, provide free legal aid, by suitable legislation or schemes or in any other way, to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities.

1.  Dr B.R. Ambedkar described these principles as ‘Novel Features’ of the Indian Constitution.
2. Granville Austin has described the Directive Principles of State Policy and Fundamental Rights as the ‘Conscience of the Constitution’.

41. Right to work, to education and to public assistance in certain cases

The State shall, within the limits of its economic capacity and development, make effective provision for securing the right to work, to education and to public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement, and in other cases of undeserved want.