What is Right to Freedom According to Indian Constitution?
Articles 19 to 22 of the Indian constitution deal with right to freedom which implies freedom of speech and expression and also of holding of assemblies. The right also ensures freedom of movement throughout the Union Territory of India and also of forming, associations, residing and setting down in any part of the country.
It implies that all citizens of India have full freedom to acquire as well as hold, sell or purchase property in any part of the country. The right gives freedom to practice any legal profession and that the state shall in no way hinder a citizen from practicing any legal profession. The people have personal liberty to have any trade or business. Freedom of expression also indirectly implies freedom of press.
All Indian citizens can hold peaceful assembly without arms and have freedom of association. Every Indian can move freely throughout the county without any hindrance or any restrictions. But these Rights are not absolute and so is the case with this freedom.
The people have freedom of expression but that is not to be used for defamation purpose. Similarly, the state can also put restrictions on this freedom when it is felt that this freedom is being used for spoiling India’s friendly relations with any foreign government.
The state is also empowered to put reasonable restrictions for maintaining law and order. Similarly, when public morality and order is in danger, the right to form association can also be restricted.
No association can be formed for promoting or encouraging illegal strikes. States can prescribe technical qualifications for starting or remaining in a particular job, profession or trade. Each detained or arrested person has to be produced before the nearest magistrate within 24 hours of arrest.
The Right to Freedom also has many implications. It implies that a person can be convicted for any offence when he has violated any law. None can be punished for the same offence more than once and one cannot be compelled to stand as witness against oneself.
It also implies that no citizen of India can be punished except according to procedure established by law. The right gives the citizens power and authority to have legal assistance and forbids the state for detaining a person without making him known about his offence. No arrested person can be kept in detention for long without orders from some judicial authority or law.
