Articles 14–18 collectively form the Right to Equality. Article 14 guarantees two things:
- Equality before law — borrowed from English common law; the State cannot give special privileges to anyone.
- Equal protection of laws — borrowed from the US Constitution; like must be treated alike.
The Reasonable Classification Test
The Supreme Court evolved this test: a law can treat different groups differently only if:
- There is an intelligible differentia (a clear basis for distinction), and
- The differentia has a rational nexus to the object of the law.
Other Equality Articles
| Article | Protection |
|---|---|
| Article 15 | No discrimination on religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth |
| Article 16 | Equality of opportunity in public employment |
| Article 17 | Abolition of untouchability |
| Article 18 | Abolition of titles (except military/academic) |