🏛️ Rights (अधिकार) – Class 11 Political Science
❇️ Meaning of Rights (अधिकार का अर्थ)
- A right is a claim made by an individual which, if accepted by society (समाज की स्वीकृति) and recognized by the state (राज्य की मान्यता) for public welfare (सार्वजनिक कल्याण), becomes a right.
- Without social acceptance, a claim does not become a right. 🤝
🌐 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
- On 10 December 1948, the UN General Assembly adopted the UDHR (मानवाधिकारों की सार्वभौमिक घोषणा) to promote basic rights for all.
- Human Rights Day: 10 December every year. 📅
🎯 Why Are Rights Necessary? (अधिकार क्यों आवश्यक?)
- To protect freedom (स्वतंत्रता) and dignity (गरिमा) of individuals.
- For smooth functioning of a democratic government (लोकतांत्रिक सरकार).
- To develop a person’s talent (प्रतिभा) and capabilities (क्षमता).
- For the holistic development (सम्पूर्ण विकास) of individuals.
- Without rights, a person is like a bird in a cage (बंद पिंजरे का पक्षी). 🕊️➡️🪺
🪜 Origin of Rights (अधिकारों की उत्पत्ति)
- Theory of Natural Rights (प्राकृतिक अधिकार सिद्धांत):
- 17th–18th centuries: Life, Liberty, Property (जीवन, स्वतंत्रता, संपत्ति) viewed as natural rights.
- Modern View:
- Natural rights are reframed as Human Rights (मानवाधिकार) → central to social welfare (सामाजिक कल्याण).
🗂️ Types of Rights (अधिकारों के प्रकार)
1) 🌿 Natural Rights (प्राकृतिक अधिकार)
- Rights inherent by birth (जन्म से प्राप्त): Life, Liberty, Property.
2) 🧭 Moral Rights (नैतिक अधिकार)
- Based on morality & conscience (नैतिकता व अंतःकरण):
- Serving parents (माता-पिता की सेवा), polite conduct (शिष्ट व्यवहार), truthfulness (सच्चा चरित्र), respect (आदर).
3) ⚖️ Legal Rights (कानूनी अधिकार)
- Rights recognized by the state (राज्य-मान्य) and protected by law.
🔶 Fundamental Rights (मौलिक अधिकार) – India
- Right to Freedom (स्वतंत्रता)
- Right to Equality (समानता)
- Right to Constitutional Remedies (संवैधानिक उपचार)
- Right Against Exploitation (शोषण के विरुद्ध)
- Freedom of Religion (धार्मिक स्वतंत्रता)
- Cultural & Educational Rights (सांस्कृतिक व शैक्षिक अधिकार)
🔶 Political Rights (राजनैतिक अधिकार)
- Right to Vote (मतदान का अधिकार)
- Right to be Elected (निर्वाचित होने का अधिकार)
- Right to hold Public Office (सरकारी पद प्राप्त करने का अधिकार)
🔶 Civil Rights (नागरिक अधिकार)
- Freedom of movement within the country (देश में आवागमन की स्वतंत्रता)
- Freedom of speech & expression (विचार अभिव्यक्ति की स्वतंत्रता)
🔶 Economic Rights (आर्थिक अधिकार)
- Right to work (काम करने का अधिकार)
- Right to acquire property (संपत्ति खरीदने का अधिकार)
🧾 Claiming Rights (अधिकारों की दावेदारी)
- Universal Rights (सार्वभौम अधिकार)
- Right to Education (शिक्षा का अधिकार)
- Freedom of Expression (अभिव्यक्ति की स्वतंत्रता)
Note: Rights come with reasonable restrictions (तर्कसंगत प्रतिबंध) to protect others’ rights and public order.
🚫 What Cannot Be Considered a Right?
Activities harmful to public health & welfare (समाज के स्वास्थ्य/कल्याण के लिए हानिकारक) are not rights, e.g.:
- Smoking (धूम्रपान)
- Use of narcotic or banned drugs (नशीली/प्रतिबंधित दवाएं)
📝 Exam Pointers (Quick Recall)
- UDHR: 10 Dec 1948; Human Rights Day: 10 Dec.
- Types: Natural, Moral, Legal → (Fundamental/Political/Civil/Economic).
- Core idea: Social acceptance + State recognition = Right.
- Rights need restrictions: to safeguard others’ rights & public welfare.
📚 Rights and Duties (अधिकार और कर्तव्य)
❇️ Rights and the State (अधिकार और राज्य)
- Rights exist only through the creation of the State.
- No right has an existence unless recognized by the State.
- The State makes rights powerful and also prevents their misuse.
- Protection of rights is the duty of the State.
❇️ How Rights Become Strong? (अधिकार शक्तिशाली कैसे हों?)
- Written Constitution 📜
- Independent Judiciary – guardian of rights ⚖️
- Federal Government and division of powers 🏛️
- Free Press 📰
- Public Awareness 👥
- State should not interfere in the private matters of citizens.
- If the State protects rights, it also has the authority to prevent misuse.
- Hence, Article 19(2) includes mention of Fundamental Duties (मौलिक कर्तव्य).
❇️ Rights and Duties (अधिकार और कर्त्तव्य)
- Rights and Duties are like two sides of the same coin 🪙.
- Rights are what we receive, but in return we must repay in the form of duties.
❇️ Duties (कर्तव्य)
👉 The word duty comes from Debt (ऋण). Rights given by the State are like a debt, and we repay it by performing duties.
🔶 Moral Duties (नैतिक कर्तव्य)
- Keeping the environment clean 🌿
- Providing proper education to children 📖
- Serving parents and elders 👵👴
- Following social rules ⚖️
- Fulfilling family responsibilities 👨👩👧👦
🔶 Legal Duties (कानूनी कर्तव्य)
- Respect the Constitution 📜
- Respect the National Flag and Anthem 🇮🇳🎶
- Maintain law and order 🛡️
- Pay taxes regularly 💰
- Protect national property 🏭
- Maintain unity, integrity, and security of the nation 🤝
- Defend the country in need 🪖
- Use natural resources wisely 🌊🌳
- Protect the ozone layer 🌍
❇️ Rights & Duties – Two Sides of a Coin (सिक्के के दो पहलू)
- Rights cannot be complete unless duties are performed.
- Duties give freedom to others to enjoy their rights.
❇️ Some New Human Rights (कुछ नए मानवाधिकार)
- Right to clean air 🌬️, safe drinking water 💧, and sustainable development 🌱
- Right to Information (सूचना का अधिकार) ℹ️
- Right to Women’s Safety 👩🦰🛡️
- Toilets for the weaker sections 🚻
- Right to food, protection, and education for children 👶📚
- Conditions necessary for living a dignified life 🙌
❇️ Price of Human Rights (मानवाधिकारों की कीमत)
- Continuous public awareness 🕵️
- No one can be arrested without valid reason 🚫👮
- Torture to force confession is not justified ❌
- Citizens must always remain alert to protect their rights & freedoms ⚡
❇️ Claims (दावे)
- Claims are demands of individuals that are morally and socially justified.
- Not all demands are claims ❌.
- Only those demands which are recognized by the State become rights ✔️.
❇️ Difference Between Rights and Claims (अधिकार व दावे में अंतर)
- All rights are claims ✅ but not all claims are rights ❌.
- Rights = Claims recognized by the State.
- Claims = Not guaranteed by Constitution, but Rights = Guaranteed by Constitution.
