Constitutional provisions

In Part III: Fundamental rights

Art 14 : Right to Equality

Art 15: Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.

Art 15(3): Empowered the state to make special provisions for women and children.

Art 16(2): Parents the discrimination against any citizen on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, decent, place of birth, residence or any of them in respect of any employment or office under the state.

Art 21A: Incorporated by (86^th amendment) act, 2002 state shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of 6-14 years in such matter as the state may, by law, determine (i.e. right to education).

In Part IV: Directive principles of state policy:

Art 39(a): The citizens, men & women of equally, have the rights to an adequate means of livelihood.

Art 39(d): There is equal pay for equal work for both men & women.

Art 39(e): The health and strength of workers, men & women and the tender age of children are not abused and that citizens are not forced by economic necessity to enter avocations unsuited to their age or strength.

Art 42: Provision for maternity relief

In part IX: Panchayats

Art 243 D (3): Not less than 1/3^rd (including the no. of seats reserved for women belonging to the SCs & STs) of the total no. of seats to be filled by direct election in every panchayat shall be reserved for women & such seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies, in a Panchayats.

Art 243D(4): Provided that not less than 1/3^rd of the total at each level shall be reserved for women & the no. of office reserved shall be allotted by rotation to different panchayats at each level.

* (these provisions are added by 73^rd Amendment Act, 1992)

In Part IX A: Municipalities

Art 243 T (3): Not less than 1/3^rd (including the no. of seats reserved for women belonging to SCs & STs) of the total no. of seats to be filled by direct election in every municipality shall be reserved for women and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a municipality.

Art 243 T (4) The offices of chairpersons in Municipalities shall be reserved for the SCs, STs & women in such manner as the legislature of a state may, by law, provide. *(These provisions are added by 74^th amendment act, 1992)

In Part XV: ‘Elections’

Art 325: No person to be ineligible for inclusion in, or to claim to be included in a special, electoral roll on grounds of religion, race, caste or sex. (i.e. universal adult franchise)