The Directive Principles of State Policy of India (DPSP) are the guidelines
or principles given to the federal institutes governing the state of India, to
be kept in citation while framing laws and policies. These provisions, contained
in Part IV (Article 36–51) of the Constitution of India, are not enforceable by
any court, but the principles laid down there in are not considered in the
governance of the country, making it the duty of the State[1] to apply these
principles in making laws to establish a just society in the country.
The
principles have been inspired by the Directive Principles given in the
Constitution of Ireland which are related to social justice, economic
welfare, foreign policy, and legal and administrative matters.
Directive Principles are classified under the following categories economic and
socialistic, political and administrative, justice and legal, environmental,
protection of monuments, peace and security.
Characteristics
While debating on DPSP in the Constituent Assembly, Dr. Ambedkar stated on 19
November 1948 as given below high lighting that the DPSP shall be the basis of
future governance of the country:
It is the intention of this Assembly that in future both the legislature and the
executive should not merely pay lip service to these principles enacted in this
part, but that they should be made the basis of all executive and legislative
action that may be taken hereafter in the matter of the governance of the
country.
Directive Principles of State Policy aim to create social and economic
conditions under which the citizens can lead a good life. They also aim to
establish social and economic democracy through a welfare state. Though the
Directive Principles are non-justiciable rights of the people but fundamental in
the governance of the country, it shall be the duty of the State to apply these
principles in making laws per Article 37. Besides, all executive agencies of
union and states should also be guided by these principles. Even
the judiciary has to keep them in mind in deciding cases.
Per Article 37, state and union governments, as duty, shall make further
detailed policies and laws for implementation considering DPSPs as fundamental
policy. In contrary to Article 37, many policies have been implemented by state
and union governments which go against the DPSPs such as using intoxicating
drinks as source of major tax revenue instead of implementing prohibition for
better health of people, separation of judiciary from executive, uniform civil
code for the citizen, etc. When the union government feels that a DPSP is no
longer useful to the nation, it shall be deleted from Constitution by bringing a
constitutional amendment to remove ambiguity in policy making / direction.
Judiciary can repeal any policy/law devised by the government which is
diametrically opposite to any DPSP.
An existing policy in line with DPSP can not be reversed, however it can be
expanded further in line with DPSP. The policy changes applicable under DPSP
shall not be reversible unless the applicable DPSP is deleted by constitutional
amendment (ex. prohibition implemented once in a state can not be repealed later
as long as it is part of DPSP).
Directives
The directive principles ensure that the State[1] shall strive to promote
the welfare of the people by securing a social order in
which social, economic and political justice is animated/informed in all
institutions of life per Article 38 (1). Dr. Ambedkar clarified as given below
in the Constituent Assembly debates on Article 38 highlighting its inevitable
implementation.
...The word strive which occurs in the Draft Constitution, in judgement, is
very important. We have used it because our intention is even when there are
circumstances which prevent the Government, or which stand in the way of the
Government giving effect to these Directive Principles, they shall, even under
hard and unpropitious circumstances, always strive in the fulfillment of these
Directives. That is why we have used the word strive. Otherwise, it would be
open for any Government to say that the circumstances are so bad, that the
finances are so inadequate that we cannot even make an effort in the direction
in which the Constitution asks us to go.
Also, the State shall strive to minimize the inequalities in income and
endeavour to eliminate economic inequality as well as inequalities in status and
opportunities, not only among individuals, but also among groups of people
residing in different areas or engaged in different vocations per Article 38
(2). The State shall aim for securing right to an adequate means of livelihood
for all citizens, both men and women as well as equal pay for equal work for
both men and women.
The State should work to prevent concentration of wealth and
means of production in a few hands, and try to ensure that ownership and control
of the material resources is distributed to best serve the common good. Child
abuse and exploitation of workers should be prevented. Children should be
allowed to develop in a healthy manner and should be protected against
exploitation and against moral and material abandonment per Article 39.
The
State shall provide free legal aid to ensure that equal opportunities for
securing justice is ensured to all, and is not denied by reason of economic or
other disabilities per Article 39A. The State shall also work for organisation
of village panchayats and help enable them to function as units of
self-government per Article 40. The State shall endeavour to provide the right
to work, to education and to public assistance in cases of unemployment, old
age, sickness and disablement, within the limits of economic capacity
per Article 41 as well as provide for just and humane conditions of work and
maternity relief per Article 42.
The State should also ensure living wage and proper working conditions for
workers, with full enjoyment of leisure and social and cultural activities.
Also, the promotion of cottage industries in rural areas is one of the
obligations of the State per Article 43 The State shall take steps to promote
their participation in management of industrial undertakings per Article 43A.
Also, the State shall endeavour to secure a uniform civil code for all citizens
per Article 44 and provide free and compulsory education to all children till
they attain the age of 14 years per Article 45. This directive regarding
education of children was added by the 86th Amendment Act, 2002. It should work
for the economic and educational upliftment of scheduled castes, scheduled
tribes and other weaker sections of the society per Article 46.
The directive principles commit the State to raise the level of nutrition and
the standard of living and to improve public health, particularly by prohibiting
intoxicating drinks and drugs injurious to health except for medicinal purposes
per Article 47. It should also organise agriculture and animal husbandry on
modern and scientific lines by improving breeds and prohibiting slaughter
of cows, calves, other milch and draught cattle per Article 48. It should
protect and improve the environment and safeguard the forests and wild life of
the country per Article 48A. This directive, regarding protection of forests and
wildlife was added by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976.
Protection of monuments, places and objects of historic and artistic interest
and national importance against destruction and damage per Article 49 and
separation of judiciary from executive in public services per Article 50 are
also the obligations of the State as laid down in the directive principles.
Finally Article 51 ensure that the State shall strive for the promotion and
maintenance of international peace and security, just and honourable relations
between nations, respect for international law and treaty obligations, as well
as settlement of international disputes by arbitration.
Implementation
There is no need of any constitutional amendment and simple legislation by the
Parliament is adequate to implement the Directive Principles as applicable laws
per Article 245 as they are already enshrined in the constitution. The State has
made few efforts till now to implement the Directive Principles.
The Programme of Universalisation of Elementary Education and the five-year
plans has been accorded the highest priority in order to provide
free education to all children up to the age of 14 years.The 86th constitutional
amendment of 2002 inserted a new article, Article 21-A, into the Constitution,
that seeks to provide free and compulsory education to all children aged 6 to 14
years. Welfare schemes for the weaker sections are being implemented both by the
Central and State governments. These include programmes such as boys' and girls'
hostels for scheduled castes' or scheduled tribes' students. The year 1990–1991
was declared as the Year of Social Justice in the memory of B.R.
Ambedkar.
The government provides free textbooks to students belonging to
scheduled castes or scheduled tribes pursuing medicine and engineering courses.
During 2002–2003, a sum of Rs.47.7 million was released for this purpose. In
order that scheduled castes and scheduled tribes are protected from atrocities,
the Government enacted the Prevention of Atrocities Act, which provided severe
punishments for such atrocities.
Several Land Reform Acts were enacted to provide ownership rights to poor
farmers.
Up to September 2001, more than 20,000,000 acres (80,000 km²) of land
had been distributed to scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and the landless
poor. The thrust of banking policy in India has been to improve banking
facilities in the rural areas.
The Minimum Wages Act of 1948 empowers government
to fix minimum wages for employees engaged in various employments. The Consumer
Protection Act of 1986 provides for the better protection of consumers. The act
is intended to provide simple, speedy and inexpensive redressal to the
consumers' grievances, award relief and compensation wherever appropriate to the
consumer.[citation needed]
The Equal Remuneration Act of 1976, provides for
equal pay for equal work for both men and women. The Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar
Yojana was launched in 2001 to attain the objective of gainful employment for
the rural poor. The programme was implemented through the Panchayati Raj
institutions.
Panchayati Raj now covers almost all states and Union territories.[21] One-third
of the total number of seats have been reserved for women in Panchayats at every
level; in the case of Bihar, half the seats have been reserved for women. Legal
aid at the expense of the State has been made compulsory in all cases pertaining
to criminal law, if the accused is too poor to engage a lawyer. Judiciary has
been separated from the executive in all the states and Union territories
except Jammu and Kashmir and Nagaland.
India's Foreign Policy has also to some degree been influenced by the DPSPs.
India, in the past has condemned all acts of aggression and has also supported
the United Nations' peace-keeping activities. By 2004, the Indian Army had
participated in 37 UN peace-keeping operations. India played a key role in the
passing of a UN resolution in 2003, which envisaged better co-operation between
the Security Council and the troop-contributing countries. India has also been
in favour of nuclear disarmament.
Per Article 38 (1), prompt rendering of the justice by courts is part of
animating judiciary. Rendering prompt justice is the foremost purpose of the
constitution as enshrined in the Preamble to the constitution also, However the
judiciary is failing dismally in this respect by causing inordinate delay
considering time of rendering justice in a case arbitrarily is its
constitutional liberty.
Amendments
Changes in Directive Principles require a Constitutional amendment which has to
be passed by a special majority of both houses of the Parliament. This means
that an amendment requires the approval of two-thirds of the members present and
voting and by the absolute majority of the house – whether the Lok Sabha or Rajya
Sabha.
# Article 31-C, amended by the 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 seeking to upgrade the DPSPs. If laws are made to give effect to any of the Directive Principles
overriding Fundamental Rights, they shall not be invalid on the grounds that
they take away the Fundamental Rights. In Minerva Mills v. Union of
India case, Supreme Court ruled that 42ndAmendment Act to the Article 31C is not
valid and ultra vires.
#Â Articles 38 (2), was added by the Forty-fourth Amendment Act, 1978 of the
Constitution
#Â Articles 39A, which directs the state to secure Equal justice and free legal
aid, was added by the Forty-second Amendment Act, 1976 of the Constitution
#Â Articles 43A, which directs the state to secure Participation of workers in
management of industries, was added by the Forty-second Amendment Act, 1976 of
the Constitution
#Â Articles 43B,which directs the state to strive for Promotion of co-operative
societies, was added by the Ninety-Seventh Amendment of the Constitution of
India[27]
#Â Article 45, which ensures Provision for free and compulsory education for
children, was added by the 86th Amendment Act, 2002.[9]
#Â Article 48A, which ensures Protection and improvement of environment and
safeguarding of forests and wild life, was added by the Forty-second Amendment
Act, 1976
#Â Articles 49, was modified by the Seventh Amendment Act, 1956 of the
Constitution
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