THE RIGHT TO WORSHIP VIS-A-VIS GENDER PARITY IN INDIA
Right to practise, profess and propagate one’s own religion is the personal choice of every citizen in India. The Constitution of India guarantees the protection of certain fundamental rights which are stated in Articles 12 to 35 and which forms Part III of the Constitution. Among them, Articles 25 and 26 are the two central A rticles guaranteeing religious freedom. India’s framework of secularism reiterates that a ll religions are equal before the State and no religion shall be given preference over the other. In other words, the state has no religion of its own. Citizen’s freedom to preach, practice and propagate any religion of their choice thus sustains the principle of secularism in India. A religion may not only lay down a code of ethical rules for its followers to accept, it might prescribe rituals and observances, ceremonies and modes of worship which are regarded as integral part of religion. The term ‘ R eligion’ has not been defined in the Constitution and it is har...