What is Article 33 of Indian constitution |
Article 33 of the Indian Constitution empowers Parliament to modify or restrict the fundamental rights of certain groups for reasons of national security and discipline.
📜 Text of Article 33 (Simplified)
Parliament may, by law, determine to what extent any of the fundamental rights shall be restricted or abrogated in their application to:
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Members of the Armed Forces,
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Members of Forces charged with public order (like police, paramilitary),
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Persons employed in intelligence services,
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Persons employed in telecommunication systems set up for forces.
✅ Meaning and Purpose of Article 33
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Fundamental Rights (like freedom of speech, association, etc.) can be limited for people in these services.
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Purpose: To maintain discipline, duty, and national security in sensitive services.
🪖 Example:
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A soldier cannot join a political party, even though Article 19 gives the right to association.
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A police officer cannot go on strike, even though civilians have that right under freedom of expression.
🏛️ Key Points:
Feature | Description |
---|---|
Who has the power | Only Parliament (not State Legislatures) |
Affected groups | Army, paramilitary, police, intelligence, military telecommunication |
Why it's needed | For security, discipline, and public order |
Type of limitation | Can restrict or even remove certain fundamental rights |
⚖️ Laws made under Article 33:
Law Name | Who it affects |
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Army Act, 1950 | Indian Army personnel |
Navy Act, 1957 | Indian Navy personnel |
Air Force Act, 1950 | Indian Air Force personnel |
Police Acts & CRPF/BSF Acts | Police and paramilitary forces |
Official Secrets Act, 1923 | Intelligence and security staff |
📌 Summary of Article 33
Aspect | Description |
---|---|
Power given to | Parliament of India |
Affects | Armed forces, police, intelligence, telecommunication for military |
What it allows | Parliament can limit or take away fundamental rights for these groups |
Purpose | Maintain discipline, secrecy, and national security |
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