How did the Supreme Court enhance Fundamental Rights, particularly relating to the Right to Life under Article 21?
Correct Answer :
By expanding the interpretation to include various aspects of a quality life.
Solution :
The correct option is: By expanding the interpretation to include various aspects of a quality life.
Explanation:
Article 21 of the Constitution of India protects the Right to Life and Personal Liberty. Originally, the term "life" was interpreted in a literal or narrow sense, meaning mere physical existence or survival.
Over the years, through landmark judgments (such as in the Maneka Gandhi case of 1978 and subsequent cases), the Supreme Court of India adopted a liberal, progressive, and purposive interpretation of Article 21. The Court ruled that the "Right to Life" does not mean mere animal existence; instead, it encompasses the right to live with human dignity and includes all those aspects of life which go to make a person's life meaningful, complete, and worth living.
By expanding this interpretation, the Supreme Court has read several implied rights into Article 21, such as:
1. The right to clean environment and pollution-free water and air.
2. The right to education (Article 21A).
3. The right to privacy.
4. The right to livelihood, shelter, and medical care.
Therefore, the Supreme Court enhanced Fundamental Rights by expanding the interpretation of Article 21 to include various aspects of a quality life.
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