CarpeDiem IAS • CarpeDiem IAS • CarpeDiem IAS •

" Human Dignity " as the Soul of the Constitution

04 Sep 2025 GS 2 Polity
" Human Dignity " as the Soul of the Constitution Click to view full image

Context:

Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, at the 11th Dr. L.M. Singhvi Memorial Lecture (2025), described human dignity as the “soul of the Constitution” — binding together liberty, equality, fraternity, and autonomy.

Constitutional Foundations of Human Dignity

  1. Preamble – Justice, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity → ensuring dignity of the individual.

  2. Fundamental Rights –

    • Article 14: Equality before law.

    • Article 19: Freedom of expression and choice.

    • Article 21: Right to life → expanded to life with dignity.

    • Article 23 & 24: Protection from exploitation.

  3. Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSPs) – Social justice, health, education, living wages.

  4. Fundamental Duties – Spirit of respect and fraternity towards others.

Judicial Interpretation of Dignity

The Supreme Court has made dignity a constitutional value through landmark judgments:

  • Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978) – Expanded Article 21 beyond mere survival to dignified life.

  • Francis Coralie Mullin v. UT of Delhi (1981) – Dignity includes adequate nutrition, clothing, shelter, education.

  • DK Basu v. State of West Bengal (1997) – Prisoners’ rights → dignity within incarceration.

  • National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) v. Union of India (2014) – Recognition of transgender rights under dignity and equality.

  • Common Cause v. Union of India (2018) – Right to die with dignity as a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution through passive euthanasia.

  • Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017) – Right to privacy as intrinsic to dignity.

  • Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India (2018) – Decriminalisation of same-sex relations on grounds of dignity and autonomy.

Ethical and Philosophical Dimensions

  • Kantian Ethics – Treat humans as ends in themselves, never merely as means.

  • Gandhian Principle of Sarvodaya – Welfare of all, rooted in respect for dignity.

  • Ambedkar’s Vision – Social and political democracy must rest on dignity and fraternity.

Contemporary Relevance

  • Prison Reforms – dignified treatment of inmates.

  • Labour Rights – protection of gig workers, migrants.

  • Gender Justice – dignity in workplaces, homes, public life.

  • Digital Age – protection of data, privacy, identity.

  • Marginalised Communities – SC/ST, disabled, LGBTQIA+ recognition.



← Back to list