Principle 1 The state shall not deny to any person equality before the law and equal protection...........

Constitutional Law Preamble and Citizenship

Principle:

(1). The state shall not deny to any person equality before the law and equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.

(2). The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex and place of birth or any of them.

Facts: The Government of Rajasthan, passed an order providing for reservations for the Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes and Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (including Muslims), and Women, in all institutions of higher education, including private educational institutions, both aided as well as unaided, in the following manner: Scheduled Caste- 15%; Scheduled Tribe- 7.5%, Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (including Muslims) – 27%

I. The reservation policy of the government is violative of the principle of equality envisaged in the Constitution

II. The reservation policy is unconstitutional because it is based on ‘caste’ which is a prohibited marker

III. Reservation does not violate equality clause as it entails “like should be treated like and unlike should be treated differently.”

IV. Reservation does not violate equality clause as the Constitution itself enables the State to make special provision for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

I is correct

I and II are both correct answers

III is correct answer

III and IV both are correct answers

Explanation:

Art 14 is a general provision which ensures equality but simultaneously Art. 15 have been interpreted by theCourts as an exception to Article 14. Art.
15 talks' of positive discrimination wherein un equals are to betreated differently.
Hence, option 4 is the correct answer.