From the following which provision is not related to right to equality ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 4:

The correct answer is **Ban on forced labour** because this provision is fundamentally enshrined under the Right Against Exploitation (Articles 23 and 24) in the Indian Constitution, not the Right to Equality (Articles 14 to 18). Article 23 explicitly prohibits traffic in human beings and forced labour (known in India as *begar*). The core purpose of the Right Against Exploitation is to prevent and abolish practices where individuals are forced to work against their will or are subjected to unfair economic conditions, thereby protecting human dignity. While both the Right to Equality and the Right Against Exploitation are Fundamental Rights designed to ensure justice and dignity, they address distinct categories of social injustice. Equality ensures equal treatment and status, whereas the prohibition of forced labor deals with freedom from physical and economic coercion. Therefore, the provision regarding the ban on forced labour falls outside the specific scope and articles dedicated to the Right to Equality.

The incorrect option is 1:

**Equality before law** is a core provision of the Right to Equality, specifically guaranteed by **Article 14** of the Constitution. This article states that the State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India. The principle of 'Equality before Law' means that no person is above the law and that all citizens are subject to the same ordinary law of the land administered by ordinary law courts. It is a negative concept borrowed from the British Constitution, signifying the absence of any special privilege in favor of any person. Since Article 14 is the foundational article of the Right to Equality, this option is clearly related to the right.

The incorrect option is 2:

**Abolition of titles** is directly covered under the Right to Equality, as detailed in **Article 18** of the Constitution. Article 18 aims to prevent the establishment of an artificial social hierarchy that could undermine the principle of equality of status. By abolishing hereditary titles (like Maharaja, Rai Bahadur, etc.), the Constitution ensures that all citizens start on a level playing field, devoid of privileges based on birth or historical honors. It does, however, allow the State to confer military and academic distinctions. Because the abolition of titles is explicitly a provision within the set of articles defining the Right to Equality, this option is closely related to the right.

The incorrect option is 3:

**Abolition of untouchability** is a powerful provision under the Right to Equality, mandated by **Article 17** of the Constitution. This Article declares that "Untouchability" is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden. Furthermore, the enforcement of any disability arising out of "Untouchability" shall be an offense punishable in accordance with law. This provision is one of the most critical steps taken by the Constitution to achieve substantive equality by removing historical and social barriers that marginalized certain sections of society. Its inclusion directly within the constitutional framework of the Right to Equality makes it integral to this fundamental right.