Clauses of Article 16 of The Indian Constitution
- Article 16(1): Article 16(1) states that equality must be provided for all citizens to get an opportunity for employment or any appointment at the office.
- Article 16(2): Article 16(2) defines that based on various factors such as religion, caste, place of birth, background, and economic condition no citizen must be discriminated against.
- Article 16(3): Article 16(3) states that the post is being reserved for certain categories on the basis of them those belonging to backward, scheduled castes or scheduled tribes.
- Article 16(4): Article 14(4) defines the special reservation for people that are physically handicapped or if they are government services persons before retirement.
- Article 16(4A): Article 16(4A) states the reservation of posts for economically weaker sections in society.
- Article 16(4B): Article 16(4B) states the relaxation of the marks required for qualifying for the appointment made for citizens of the backward class.
- Article 335: Article 335 states that the claims of members of the scheduled class and tribes shall be taken into consideration, with the administrative efficiency and making of appointments to services and posts with the affairs of the state.
Article 16 of Indian Constitution
Article 16 of the Constitution of India, states that equality for all employment opportunities for the citizens of the country without making any discrimination based on their caste, religion, profession, and region of residence. Article 16 makes sure that citizens must be provided with government as well as private opportunities regardless of their economic background. Additionally, Article 16 gives the State the power to establish rules for the reserve of appointments or positions in favor of any underrepresented group of citizens. The clause permits the State to implement affirmative action in order to advance social justice and pull up the historically oppressed lower strata of society.
The key provisions of Article 16 are as follows:
- Equal employment opportunities must be provided for all citizens.
- No citizen must be discriminated against on the basis of sex, caste, region, or religion.
- The State may make provisions for the reservation of appointments or posts in favor of any backward class of citizens, which, in the opinion of the State, are not adequately represented in the services under the State.
- Nothing in this article shall prohibit the State from providing for the reservation of positions in favor of any economically underprivileged groups of persons.