The Fundamental Rights are enshrined in Part III of the Constitution from Articles 12 to 35. In this regards, the framers of the constitution derived inspiration from the Constitution of USA. Part III of the Constitution is rightly described as the "Magna Carta of india". It contains a very long and comprehensive list of 'justiciable' Fundamental Rights. In fact, the Fundamental Rights in our Constitution are more elaborate than those found in the Constitution of any other country in the world, including the USA.
The Fundamental Rights are guaranteed by the Constitution to all persons without any discrimination. They uphold the equality of all individuals, the dignity of the individual, the larger public interest and unity of the nation.
The Fundamental Rights are meant for promoting the ideal of political democracy. They prevent the establishment of an authoritaan and despotic rule in the country, and protect the liberties and freedoms of the people against the invasion by the State, They operate as limitations on the tyranny of the executive and arbitrary laws of the legislatature.The Fundamental Rights are named so because they are guaranteed and protected by the Constitution, which is the fundamental law of the land. They are 'fundamental' also in the sense that they are most esential for the all-round development of the individuals.
The Constitution provided for seven Fundamental Rights;
1. Right to equality (Article 14 to 18)
2. Right to freedom (Article 19 to 22)
3. Right against exploitation (Article 22 to 24
4. Right to freedom of religion (Article 25 to 28)
5. Cultural and educational rights (Article 29 to 30)
6. Right to property (Article 31)
7. Right to constitutional remedies (Article 32)
However, the right to property was deleted form the list of Fundamental Rights by the 44th amendament Act, 1978. It is made a legal right under Article 300-A in Part XII of the Constitution. So at Present, there are only six Fundamental Rights.
