New Delhi: Supreme Court Judge Justice Vikram Nath Sunday said that Fundamental Duties have always preceded fundamental Rights and the apex court in a ‘host of judgements’ has reiterated the same view.
“Fundamental Right is only one of the pillars of the Constitution and it cannot stand alone. It has to be read with Fundamental Duties enshrined in part IV-A of our Constitution,” Nath said while delivering his keynote address in the national symposium held in the memory of late Justice HR Khanna.
In the symposium titled, “Fundamental Duties vis-à-vis Fundamental Rights under Our Constitution,” Nath further hailed ‘Duties’ as having “deep roots in Indian civilisation” and how developed countries give a “premium to them over individual rights” in the international scenario.
Quoting former law minister HR Gokhale, Nath said Fundamental Duties were meant to have “a sobering effect on these restless spirits who have had a host of anti-national, subversive and unconstitutional agitations.”
Full text of Justice Vikram Nath’s keynote address: