Fundamental rights imply duties
We all boast a lot about the fundamental rights that our Constitution grants to us but more often than not, forget that these rights also imply certain duties. Here is a little reminder for all of us, to judge where we stand.
IN THE present age of democracy, there is always a tendency to put all emphasis on the rights and to forget that rights also imply duties. Every right carries with it a duty. If one has the right to follow one’s own religion, it is one’s duty to allow others to follow their own. Rights and duties are equally important and that is why our Constitution has laid down certain duties for the citizens along with rights.
Our Constitution lays down that it shall be the duty of every citizen of India:
- To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals, the national flag and the national anthem.
- To cherish and follow the noble ideas, which inspired the national struggle for independence.
- To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.
- To defend the country and render national services when called upon to do so.
- To promote the harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood among all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities, to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women.
- To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture.
- To protect and improve national environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and have compassion for living creatures.
- To develop scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.
- To safeguard public property and to abjure violence.
- To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity, so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement.
The above duties contained in the part IV-A of the Constitution, as cited above, merely define what the state expects from citizens in return for the rights embodied in the part III of the Constitution. However, some critics doubt whether the inclusion of these duties would serve any useful purpose or not, because:
- Some of the duties have not been clearly worded. Words like ’scientific temper’ and humanism can be variously interpreted.
- There is no coercive machinery for enforcement of these duties.
Hence, they say that the chapter on duties will remain a pious hope till some more amendments and additions to part IV-A are made. But it is not justified because:
- Nothing can be got without paying the price. If we want certain rights, we will have to perform certain duties also. Every right implies a duty. These duties make us not only good citizens but also responsible citizens.
- Fundamental duties have put the fundamental rights in the right perspective. They have balanced one thing with the other.
- Fundamental duties have been added to make the citizens patriotic and make them realise the importance of protecting the sovereignty and integrity of their country.
- Fundamental duties have been incorporated in the Constitution of India to promote the ideas of harmony in the land of diversities and to strengthen the nation.
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.i m central gov employee my officer miss behave me n they want to make pressure me to left my service .plse tell me what i have to do?.,
.this is sick. all u guys wrote is bogus nothing informational who the hell even made this site
that a.. hole.
This comment has been removed by the moderator
.i am not able to understand what is written the non sense things are given over hear so i request for more information please.
.The fifth duty that is quoted in the constitution which says that a citizen should renounce practices derogatory to women, I wish to state that the time has come to include men also in that. These days, various advertisements and movies etc. show men in poor light. The media is the biggest man bashing machine and has created a prejudice against men. Times have changed and the constitution needs to be changed too!
Ur absolutely right that time has changed & with it the constituion needs to be changed too..but with constitution, minds of people like u needs to be changed. From last so many years, men were given undue importance and still in some part of India this tradition goes on. And movies & television programmes are NOT against men but it is for women & to make the people realize that a women can walk shoulder to shoulder with men.
.Good work.... when we talk about duties of citizens towards the nation it sounds good.....but dont u think that there is a great need of understanding duties at work, at home and at the most about ourselves! and our near and dear ones.....i feel if we start fulfilling these duties then it will be a small start towards a bigger achivement ?
yes u r absolutely right.....and i m really glad to know that my article is working in right direction....coz this was all i expected from this article that the citizens should give a second thought atleast in fulfiling their duties....
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