Constitutional Provisions for Minorities.
The safeguards for the protection of interests of minorities are mandated in the
following provisions of Constitution of India:
(i) Article 15 (1) & (2)
Prohibition of discrimination against citizens on grounds of
religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth;
(ii) Article 16(1)&(2)
Citizens’ right to ‘equality of opportunity’ in matters relating
to employment or appointment to any office under the State, and prohibition in
this regard of any discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or
place of birth;
(iii) Article 25(1)
People’s freedom of conscience and right to freely profess,
practise and propagate religion – subject to public order, morality and other
Fundamental Rights;
(iv) Article 26
Right of every religious denomination or any section thereof –
subject to public order, morality and health – to establish and maintain
institutions for religious and charitable purposes, manage its own affairs in
matters of religion, and own and acquire movable and immovable property
and administer it in accordance with law
(v) Article 28
People’s freedom as to attendance at religious instruction or
religious worship in educational institutions wholly maintained, recognized, or
aided by the State
(vi) Article 29(2)
Non-denial of admission to any citizen to any educational
institution maintained or aided by the State, on grounds only of religion, race,
caste, language or any of them;
(vii) Article 30(1)
Right of all religious and linguistic minorities to establish and
administer educational institutions of their choice;
(viii) Article 30(1A)
State laws providing for compulsory acquisition of property of
minority educational institutions shall ensure that compensation amount to be
paid does not restrict or abrogate the right guaranteed above;
(ix) Article30(2)
Freedom of minority-managed educational institutions from
discrimination in the matter of receiving aid from the State;
