Expanding Horizons of Right to Life and Personal Liberty

The Indian Constitution is a living constitution which embodies India's governing framework while also establishing basic rights, directive principles of state policy, and fundamental duties. The constitution guarantees a variety of rights. Among them, the right to life and personal liberty is unique, having been codified in Article 21 as one of the most wide and judicially construed articles.

Key Features:

• Explores the historical, constitutional, and judicial evolution of the right to life and personal liberty in India.
• Examines landmark judgments that broadened Article 21 to include rights such as privacy, health, shelter, and education.
• Detailed coverage of protections under Articles 20 and 22, including rights against arbitrary arrest, bail provisions, and preventive detention laws.
• Discusses bail reform, solitary confinement, custodial abuse, and the ongoing debate on the death penalty.
• Engages with contemporary rights like reproductive autonomy, surrogacy, right to die with dignity, environmental rights, and compensation for victims of sexual violence.
• Draws from international conventions, directive principles of state policy, and comparative constitutional practices.

Written by Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma, Associate Professor of Law at Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab, this book is a valuable resource for law students, researchers, academicians, and legal professionals seeking clarity on constitutional rights and criminal justice.