What is Article 15 of indian constitution |
📘 Article 15 of the Indian Constitution – Prohibition of Discrimination
🔹 Text Summary of Article 15:
The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of:
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Religion
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Race
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Caste
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Sex
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Place of birth
🧾 Detailed Breakdown:
🔸 Article 15(1):
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The State shall not discriminate against any citizen only on the basis of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.
🔸 Article 15(2):
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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):
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The State can make special laws for the welfare of women and children.
🔸 Article 15(4):
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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):
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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):
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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):
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Supreme Court said caste-based reservations violated Article 15.
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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 |
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