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According to B. R. Ambedkar, which one among the following Articles is the 'heart and soul' of the Constitution of India?
Explanation
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, famously described Article 32 as the 'heart and soul' of the Constitution [2]. During the Constituent Assembly debates, he emphasized that without an effective machinery for the enforcement of fundamental rights, a mere declaration of those rights would be 'meaningless, useless, and worthless' [2]. Article 32 provides the Right to Constitutional Remedies, allowing citizens to move the Supreme Court directly for the enforcement of their rights through various writs [2]. Ambedkar asserted that this article is the most important provision, without which the Constitution would be a 'nullity' [1]. While Article 15 prohibits discrimination, Article 21 protects life and liberty [3], and Article 23 prohibits forced labor [3], it is Article 32 that ensures these rights are real and justiciable [2].
Sources
- [2] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 8: Fundamental Rights > RICHTTO CONSTITUTIONAL REMEDIES > p. 97
- [1] Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 8: FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES > CHAP. 81 > p. 152
- [3] https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/16124/1/the_constitution_of_india.pdf