Chapter in Detail:

Introduction
In 2003, Supreme Court has directed the Centre to enact a law for the enforcement of
fundamental duties by citizens as suggested by the Justice Verma Committee (2000).
Ques. 1 : Outline the fundamental duties as enshrined in the Art. 51A of the Constitution?
Ans. Part IVA of the Constitution relating to Fundamental Duties was inserted in the Constitution
vide the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976 in accordance with the
recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee appointed by the Congress President to
review the Constitution. This Part contains only one article, namely article 51A containing 11
Fundamental Duties. The FDs are as under:

51A. Fundamental Duties It shall be the duty of every

citizen of India
(a) to abide by the Constitution and respect its: ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the
National Anthem;
(b) to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom;
(c) to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India;
(d) to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so;
(e) to promote harmony and tide 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;
(f) to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;
(g) to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life,
and to have compassion for living creatures;
(h) to develop the scientific temper humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
(i) to safeguard public property and to abjure violence;
(j) 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 (added by the 86th Amendment Act).
The FDs are non-justiciable that is, citizens can not be forced to observe them. Some of them, are
however a part of the enforceable law. For example, Prevention of Insults to National honour
Act, 1971 and so on.
However, if a citizen violates FDs, his FRs may not be restored when he approaches courts.

Justice Verma Committee Report on Teaching Fundamental

Duties to Citizens
Justice Verma Committee Report on Teaching Fundamental Duties to Citizens was set up in 1999
and the report was presented in 2000. It recommended reorienting approaches to school
curriculum and teachers education programmes and incorporating fundamental duties in higher
and professional education.
Ques. 2 : Fundamental duties are meaningless unless backed by a law. Examine?
Ans. The former Chief Justice of India, Ranganath Mishra, in a letter o the Chief Justice of India,
requested the apex court to issue necessary directions to the State to educate its citizens in the
matter of fundamental duties so that a right balance emerged between rights and duties. This
letter was treated as a writ petition. The apex court appointed senior advocate K. Parasaran, as
amicus curiae to assist the court.
National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (NCRW) report in 2002
recommended the implementation of the report of Justice Verma Committee. The Commission
recommended that the first and foremost step required to he taken by the Union and the Stale
Governments was to sensitise the people and create a general awareness of the provisions of
fundamental duties amongst the citizens, on the lines recommended by the Justice Verma
Committee.