UGC-NET (NTA) Human Rights and Duties, FEBRUARY-2023

The Indian judiciary, especially the Supreme Court, has been instrumental in expanding the ambit of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty.
(a) Right to Privacy: This was affirmed in the landmark case of Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) vs Union of India, where the court held that the right to privacy is an intrinsic part of the right to life and personal liberty.
(b) Right to Speedy Trial: In the case of Hussainara Khatoon vs State of Bihar, the apex court emphasized that the right to a speedy trial is an essential part of the fundamental right to life and liberty.
(d) Right to Reputation: In the case of Subramanian Swamy vs Union of India, the Supreme Court held that the right to reputation is a component of Article 21.
However, while the "right to work" is a significant principle, it hasn't been categorized explicitly under the right to life and personal liberty in the context of government institutions.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution, believed in establishing a society that promotes social democracy. For him, social democracy  implied not just the political structure, but a way of life. He emphasized on: (b) Equality: Eliminating disparities of caste, creed, and socio-economic class. (c) Liberty: Assuring freedoms as enshrined in the Constitution.
(e) Fraternity: Building a sense of brotherhood and solidarity among diverse sections of society. These ideals are also reflected in the Preamble to the Constitution.

The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 was established to ensure the protection and preservation of human rights in India. (a) NHRC's Approach: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has indeed taken both preventive measures and collective approaches to combat human rights violations.
(c) Awareness Programs: NHRC conducts awareness programs and campaigns to educate people about human rights, ensuring that individuals know their rights and the means to secure them.
(d) Pro-active Approach: Both NHRC and State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) are proactive in their efforts to reduce human rights violations, responding swiftly to reported incidents.

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 is a significant legislation in India aimed at protecting women from domestic abuse.
(a) Endangering Well-being: Any act that puts the life or well-being of the aggrieved woman in danger comes under domestic violence.
(c) Deprivation of Stridhan: Stridhan refers to a woman's property, including gifts, money, or any other assets that she receives during her lifetime. Depriving a woman of her Stridhan is considered domestic violence.
(d) Emotional Abuse: Emotional abuse, including pressuring a woman or making derogatory remarks about not having a child, is also categorized under domestic violence.

Article 72 of the Indian Constitution provides certain powers to the President regarding the pardoning of convicts or reducing their sentences. (a) Suspension of Sentence: The President has the authority to suspend, remit, or commute sentences of convicted individuals in specific situations. (b) Commutation of Sentence: The President can convert a type of punishment into a less severe form (e.g., a death penalty can be commuted to life imprisonment).
While the President has the power to pardon, including in cases of court martial, ordering a fresh trial or enhancing the sentence isn't part of the President's powers under Article 72.

• "Gender Trouble" by Judith Butler (IV): This book is a foundational text in queer theory. Butler challenges traditional gender roles and the distinction between gender and sex.
• "Vaginal Monologues" by Eve Ensler (I): This is a play based on interviews with over 200 women about their views on sex, relationships, and violence against women. It's a groundbreaking work that brought attention to various issues women face.
• "A Vindication of the Rights of Women"
  by Mary Wollstonecraft (II): One of the earliest works of feminist literature, Wollstonecraft argued that women should have an education commensurate with their position in society.
• "Feminist Mystique" by Betty Friedan
  (III): This book is credited with sparking the beginning of second-wave feminism in the U.S. Friedan explored the idea of
  women finding personal fulfillment outside of their traditional roles.

• Amnesty International (II. London): Founded in 1961, this global human rights organization campaigns against grave abuses of human rights.
• International Commission of Jurists
  (I. Geneva): Established in 1952, it's a non-governmental organization that works to uphold human rights through the rule
  of law. International League for Human Rights
• (IV. New York): One of the oldest human rights organizations, it was founded in 1941.
• People's Union for Civil Liberties (III. India): An Indian organization founded in 1976 to protect civil liberties and human rights.

• S. 354 A (III. Sexual Harassnent): This section deals with the punishment for sexual harassment.
• S. 354 B (II. Assault with intent to disrobe): This provision is about assaulting or using criminal force with the intent to disrobe a woman.
• S. 354 C (IV. Voyeurism): It deals with punishment for voyeurism.
• S. 354 D (I. Stalking): This section provides the legal definition of stalking and its punishments.

(*) The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution consists of the following 22 languages: (1) Assamese, (2) Bengali, (3) Gujarati, (4) Hindi, (5) Kannada (6) Kashmiri, (7) Konkani, (8) Malayalam, (9) Manipuri, (10) Marathi, (11) Nepali, (12) Oriya, (13) Punjabi, (14) Sanskrit, (15) Sindhi, (16) Tamil, (17) Telugu, (18) Urdu (19) Bodo, (20) Santhali, (21) Maithili and (22) Dogri.
Of these languages, 14 were initially included in the Constitution. Sindhi language was added in 1967. Thereafter three more languages viz., Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali were included in 1992. Subsequently Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santhali were added in 2004.

• Appiko Movement (IV. Karnataka): This environmental movement was similar to the Chipko movement in Uttarakhand but took place in the state of Karnataka. It started as a reaction to deforestation in the region.
• Bharat Jana Andolan (I. Bastar): This movement focused on socio-economic issues and land rights.
• Chipko Movement (III. Uttarakhand): Started in the 1970s, this environmental movement used the tactic of hugging trees to prevent their felling.
• Chilka Bachao Andolan (II. Odisha): This movement was initiated to save the Chilika Lake in the state of Odisha, the largest coastal lagoon in India.