Article 21 is one of the most expansive fundamental rights in the Indian Constitution. The Supreme Court has interpreted “life” to mean more than mere animal existence — it includes the right to live with dignity, the right to livelihood, the right to health, and even the right to a clean environment.
Key Expansions by the Supreme Court
- Right to privacy — K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017)
- Right to speedy trial — Hussainara Khatoon v. State of Bihar (1979)
- Right to free legal aid
- Right against solitary confinement
This right is available to every person on Indian soil — citizens and non-citizens alike.
“The right to life includes the right to live with human dignity and all that goes along with it.” — Supreme Court of India