What is Article 19?

The Constitution of India, 1950 guarantees certain ‘fundamental rights’ to both citizens and non-citizens.  These rights, placed under Part III of the Constitution (i.e. Articles 14 to 32), are a set of basic human rights that protect people against unreasonable actions by the government. Among these provisions is Article 19, which guarantees protection of certain rights regarding freedom of the individual. Article 19 does two things – first, it confers six basic freedoms to all Indian citizens, and second, it specifies the circumstances under which the government can limit these freedoms.

What does Article 19, clause (1) of the Constitution say? 

Article 19, clause (1) guarantees six rights to all the citizens of India. The rights are listed under sub-clauses (a) to (e) and sub-clause (g) of clause (1) of Article 19. Together these rights promote the ideal of liberty envisaged in the Constitution. The rights guaranteed under Article 19(1) are not absolutely free from limitations. They are subject to a corresponding set of reasonable restrictions given under Articles 19(2) to 19(6).