🧾 Article 14 – Equality Before Law
Constitution of India
Text:
“The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.”
🔹 Key Elements of Article 14
| Component | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Applies to | All persons (citizens and non-citizens) |
| Against | The State (as defined in Article 12) |
| Part 1: Equality before law | No one is above the law; equal subjection of all persons to ordinary laws |
| Part 2: Equal protection | Like should be treated alike; reasonable classification is allowed |
| Nature | Fundamental Right; enforceable in courts under Article 32/226 |
🔍 Reasonable Classification – Essentials
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Intelligible differentia – The classification must be based on some understandable difference.
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Rational nexus – That difference must relate to the purpose of the law.
✅ Permitted: Reservation for SC/ST, special laws for children, laws for economically weaker sections
❌ Not permitted: Arbitrary distinctions without justification
⚖️ Landmark Judgments
| Case | Principle |
|---|---|
| State of W.B. v. Anwar Ali Sarkar (1952) | Arbitrary classification not allowed |
| EP Royappa v. State of Tamil Nadu (1974) | Equality means absence of arbitrariness |
| Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978) | Due process part of equality; procedure must be fair |
| Indra Sawhney v. Union of India (1992) | Reservations are valid tool for achieving real equality |
🟨 Summary
Article 14 guarantees:
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Legal equality for all persons,
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Prevents arbitrary actions by the State,
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Allows affirmative action for fairness,
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Forms the bedrock of the Rule of Law in India.
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