The country in brief
The country's law, area by area
Marriage, partnership and divorce
Marriage · Partnerships and cohabitation · Same-sex marriage · Religious ceremony · Wedding customs and ceremonies · Matrimonial property and inheritance · Divorce
Children, family and inheritance
Names · Adoption · Assisted reproduction · Childcare · Step-families
Contraception, abortion, sexuality and drugs
Contraception · Abortion · Parents: a teenager’s first relationship · Sexual orientation · Drugs and controlled substances · Alcohol and tobacco
Violence, consent and sexual offences
Consent and age of consent · Domestic violence · Female genital mutilation
Online: privacy, image, data and scams
Data protection · Privacy · Image rights · Speech and online harassment · Copyright · Identity theft · Online shopping · Romance scams
Health: pregnancy, STIs and care
Pregnancy · Periods and period products · Sex therapy · Mental health · Dental care · HIV and AIDS · Hepatitis B · HPV
Fundamental rights
Key points
| Part III | Fundamental rights, including equality, life and liberty, and free expression |
|---|---|
| Article 32 | Direct petition to the Supreme Court, itself a fundamental right |
| Article 226 | Wider High Court writ jurisdiction, covering legal as well as fundamental rights |
| Public interest litigation | Relaxed standing; letters have been treated as petitions |
| Basic structure | Constitutional amendments themselves can be struck down |
| NHRC | Recommendatory powers; state commissions in each state |
| Locus standi | Relaxed for public interest litigation; letters have been treated as petitions |
| Continuing mandamus | Courts retain supervision over compliance with their orders |
| Legal services authorities | Provide free representation at every level |
Understanding the rules
Part III of the Constitution guarantees fundamental rights, enforceable directly in the Supreme Court under Article 32 and in the High Courts under Article 226. Public interest litigation has widened standing dramatically: a letter can be treated as a petition. The basic structure doctrine limits even constitutional amendments, and the National Human Rights Commission provides a non-judicial route.
In practice
- Approach the district legal services authority for free representation before filing.
Where to go
- National Human Rights Commission and state commissions.
- High Court legal services authority for free legal aid.
- Supreme Court Legal Services Committee.
Worth knowing
Article 226 is usually the better starting point than Article 32: it is wider in scope, closer to home, and the Supreme Court often asks why the High Court was bypassed. Article 226 is usually the better route than Article 32: wider in scope, closer to home, and the Supreme Court often asks why it was bypassed.
The general article: Fundamental rights · Compare with another country
Courtship and beauty around the world
Advice
Sources
- Marriage/Divorce/Maintenance (Law Commission of India reports) — Law Commission of India, accessed 2026
Official or institutional documents this page relies on, consulted on 12 October 2026. Links open in a new tab.
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