Right to Equality — Prelims Strategy

Prelims Strategy

Revise Articles 14–18 by subject and scope. Article 14 refers to persons; Article 15's principal discrimination provisions concern citizens; Article 16 addresses equality of opportunity in public employment. Article 17 and 18 have their own prohibited practices and qualifications. Do not carry a citizen-specific formulation into Article 14.

For public-employment questions, distinguish access to employment from unrelated settings such as admission or private transactions. A familiar equality phrase does not make the same clause applicable everywhere. Read any reservation-related statement against the precise constitutional provision and its conditions rather than assuming that a broad social objective establishes authority.

In hypothetical examples, identify the relevant difference between groups. An accessibility adjustment changes the means of access, while an unannounced personal preference changes the basis of selection.

Both involve different treatment but have different rationales. Avoid the shortcut that equality requires identical procedure regardless of circumstances. Equally, do not assume that a distinction is justified merely because an authority describes it as beneficial; the legal basis and relationship to the purpose still matter.