Abolition of Untouchability — Article 17 — KSLU Constitutional Law Notes

Abolition of Untouchability — Article 17

Article 17 abolishes “untouchability” and forbids its practice in any form; enforcing any disability arising out of it is an offence (the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955; the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989). It is one of the few rights enforceable against private individuals, not just the State — a direct constitutional assault on a social evil.