Right to Equality

Articles 14 to 18 together make up the Right to Equality. Article 14 guarantees

that the state will treat everyone equally before the law and give everyone the equal protection of

the laws -- meaning that like cases must be treated alike, though the law may still classify people

into reasonable categories (for instance, taxing higher incomes at higher rates) as long as the

classification serves a genuine purpose.

Article 15 prohibits the state from discriminating against any citizen only on the grounds of

religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth, while still allowing the state to make special

provisions for women, children, and socially and educationally backward classes -- this is the

constitutional basis for reservation policies. Article 16 guarantees equality of opportunity in

matters of public employment. Article 17 abolishes untouchability in any form and makes its practice

a punishable offence -- this is one of the rare Fundamental Rights that applies directly against …