Fundamental duties
Date: 24 February 2022 Tags: ConstitutionIssue
A notice has been issued by the Supreme Court to centre and states for implementing fundamental duties of citizens.
Background
The court was ruling on a writ petition that had asked why fundamental duties were not being implemented even after its presence in constitution.
Details
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The petition says that implementing fundamental duties contribute to its growth and betterment, and failure to do so has a direct bearing on the fundamental rights.
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There have been instances where fundamental duties have been flouted that have resulted in violation of Fundamental rights of other citizens.
Fundamental duties in constitution
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Fundamental duties were added as Part IV-A of the Constitution by The Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1976 during the tenure of Indira Gandhi.
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They were inspired from constitution of Soviet Union. The recommendations for fundamental duties were made by a committee chaired by Swaran Singh.
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The committee made recommendations to add eight fundamental duties but the government added ten duties to the constitution.
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An eleventh fundamental duty was added by the 86th Amendment in 2002, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was Prime Minister.
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Fundamental duties are not enforceable by law and their addition was made to realize obligation of citizens.
Fundamental duties
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To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem;
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To cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom;
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To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India;
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To defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so;
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To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women;
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To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;
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To protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures;
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To develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
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To safeguard public property and to abjure violence;
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To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement;
k. Who is a parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to his child or, as the case may be, ward between the age of six and fourteen years.