In which judgement did the Supreme Court extend the scope of Article 21 and observed that ‘the Right to education flows directly from the Right to life’?

Key Points

• The Supreme Court of India, in the case of Mohini Jain v State of Karnataka, extended the scope of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
• The judgement observed that the Right to education flows directly from the Right to life, which is guaranteed under Article 21.
• This landmark decision emphasized that the state is obligated to provide educational facilities to its citizens as a part of their fundamental rights.
• The ruling paved the way for subsequent decisions and legislations that strengthened the right to education in India.

Additional Information

• Article 21 of the Indian Constitution states that "No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law."
• The interpretation of Article 21 has been broadened over the years to include various rights that are essential to the life and dignity of an individual.
• The Right to Education Act, 2009, which provides free and compulsory education to all children aged 6 to 14 years, was a significant step towards realizing the right recognized in the Mohini Jain case.
• The Constitution (Eighty-sixth Amendment) Act, 2002, also inserted Article 21A, explicitly making education a fundamental right for children in the specified age group.