Do you agree with the statement that “it is not clear why in a poor developing country,
certain basic socio-economic rights were relegated to the section on Directive Principles
rather than made an integral feature of our Fundamental Rights”? Give reasons for your
answer. What do you think are the possible reasons for putting socio-economic rights
in the section on Directive Principles?

Question

Do you agree with the statement that “it is not clear why in a poor developing country,
certain basic socio-economic rights were relegated to the section on Directive Principles
rather than made an integral feature of our Fundamental Rights”? Give reasons for your
answer. What do you think are the possible reasons for putting socio-economic rights
in the section on Directive Principles?

MyClass24 · Accepted Answer

Directive Principles of state policy focus on the need of an egalitarian society:
 These principles are complementary to fundamental rights because fundamental
rights ensure the political democracy while these principles aim at social-economic
democracy.
 Fundamental rights are justiciable or protected by law where directive principles are
moral values supposed to be followed by the government.
 Hence, in a poor country, certain basic social-economic rights were inserted in
directive principles rather than making it in the fundamental rights.
 Our country was so poor at that time, when it was not possible to give much pressure
on the states for socio-economic moral values.
 Under Article 37 of Constitution, “It shall be the duty of the state to apply these
principles in making laws”.
 If any government overlooks these, it will lose confidence of people and cannot
remain in power.