Which of the following statements regarding Article 21 of the Constitu

Which of the following statements regarding Article 21 of the Constitution of India is/are correct?

  • 1. Article 21 is violated when the under-trial prisoners are detained in judicial custody for an indefinite period.
  • 2. Right to life is one of the basic human rights and not even the State has the authority to violate that right.
  • 3. Under Article 21, the right of a woman to make reproductive choices is not a dimension of personal liberty.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1, 2 and 3
1 and 2 only
1 and 3 only
2 only
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2017
Statements 1 and 2 regarding Article 21 of the Constitution of India are correct.
Article 21 guarantees the fundamental right to Protection of Life and Personal Liberty. The Supreme Court of India has significantly expanded the scope of Article 21 through various judgments.
Statement 1 is correct. The Supreme Court has held that prolonged detention of under-trial prisoners violates their right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 (e.g., in Hussainara Khatoon v. State of Bihar). Statement 2 is correct. Right to life is universally recognized as a basic human right, and Article 21 protects this right against arbitrary state action. Statement 3 is incorrect. The Supreme Court has recognized the right of a woman to make reproductive choices (e.g., regarding abortion) as an important dimension of personal liberty under Article 21.