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What is Article 15 of indian constitution| Prohibition of Discrimination

 

What is Article 15 of indian constitution

📘 Article 15 of the Indian ConstitutionProhibition of Discrimination


🔹 Text Summary of Article 15:

The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of:

  • Religion

  • Race

  • Caste

  • Sex

  • Place of birth


🧾 Detailed Breakdown:

🔸 Article 15(1):

  • The State shall not discriminate against any citizen only on the basis of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.

🔸 Article 15(2):

  • No citizen shall be denied access to public places (like shops, hotels, public parks, wells, tanks, roads, etc.) based on the above grounds.


Permitted Special Provisions (Positive Discrimination):

🔸 Article 15(3):

  • The State can make special laws for the welfare of women and children.

🔸 Article 15(4):

  • The State can make special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes, including SCs and STs.
    (Added by the First Constitutional Amendment, 1951)

🔸 Article 15(5):

  • Allows reservation in educational institutions, including private ones (except minority-run), for backward classes, SCs, and STs.
    (Added by the 93rd Amendment, 2005)

🔸 Article 15(6):

  • Provides 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in educational institutions.
    (Added by the 103rd Amendment, 2019)


📌 In Simple Words:

Article 15 protects you from discrimination by the State, especially in public spaces and education, and allows the government to give reservations to help weaker sections.


⚖️ Important Case: State of Madras v. Champakam Dorairajan (1951):

  • Supreme Court said caste-based reservations violated Article 15.

  • Led to the First Amendment allowing reservations under Article 15(4).


Summary Table:

Clause What it Says
15(1) No discrimination by the State based on religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth
15(2) Equal access to public places
15(3) Special provisions for women and children allowed
15(4) Special provisions for SCs, STs, and backward classes allowed
15(5) Reservation in educational institutions allowed
15(6) 10% EWS reservation allowed