Statutory Right

• Right to Information [Right to Information Act, 2005]

Looking at the array of rights provided by the Constitution of India under Part III and the desirable moral, social and welfare commitments under Part IV, we can but agree with Granville Austin that ‘Indian Constitution is first and foremost a social document.’⁹⁴ Austin describes these two parts as ‘the conscience of the Constitution.’ In a sense, though tilted towards liberal position in providing rights, it does recognize what social-welfare theory of rights, or multiculturalists, or legal theorists argue for. It also provides certain rights, which are core to the human rights debate such as the right of equality of all irrespective of gender and caste; right of participation and practice of religious and cultural life; right of human dignity and abolition of untouchability, etc. Abolition of untouchability actually secures dignity of individual against social oppression. It is a right not against the state but against the society. If the Constitution of India has been envisaged as a document of social revolution, as Austin says, lets hope it would usher in such a revolution, sooner than later.