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Article 21

Right to life and personal liberty

No one can take your life or freedom except by a fair legal procedure.

Real life

Police cannot detain a student without following the law and telling them why.

What it means

  • Courts have read Article 21 widely: it includes dignity, health, clean air, food and shelter.
  • It is the source of the right to privacy and the right to education.
  • Any limit must come from a fair, just and reasonable law.

Related rights

Right to privacyArticle 21 (Puttaswamy, 2017)Protection when arrestedArticle 22