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Article 17

Untouchability is abolished

Treating someone as 'untouchable' because of caste is a crime.

Real life

A student is told to sit separately at lunch because of their caste. That is illegal, not tradition.

What it means

  • Article 17 abolishes untouchability in every form.
  • Practising it is punishable by law.
  • This right works against private people too, not just the government.

Related rights

Equality before the lawArticle 14No discriminationArticle 15