In this article you will learn about the Significance of Directive Principles of State Policy.
Significance of Directive Principles of State Policy
The directive principles of state policy hold a significant importance in the Indian constitutional framework. Here are some key reasons why directive principles are significant :
Social and Economic Justice : The directive principles aim to establish social and economic justice in society. They emphasise the eradication of poverty, the promotion of equal opportunities, and the provision of adequate standards of living for all citizens. By guiding the state in policy formulation, the directive principles seek to address socioeconomic inequalities and uplift marginalised sections of society.
Guiding Principles for Governance : Directive principles provide a set of guiding principles for the government to shape its policies and legislation. They outline the goals and objectives that the state should strive to achieve. These principles cover various areas such as education, health, agriculture, labour, and the environment. By incorporating these principles into policymaking, the government aims to create a just and welfare-oriented society.
Promotion of Social Welfare : The directive principles prioritise the welfare of the citizens. They encourage the state to promote and protect the interests of various vulnerable groups, including women, children, and backward classes. The principles emphasise the establishment of social welfare programs, the provision of basic amenities, and the advancement of public health and education.
Inspiration for Law Reforms : Although directive principles are non-justiciable, they serve as a source of inspiration for law reforms. They provide a framework for the legislature to enact laws that align with the ideals of justice, equality, and welfare. In several instances, directive principles have influenced the formulation of laws and policies to promote social progress and address societal issues.
Fundamental Rights' Interpretation : The directive principles play a role in the interpretation of fundamental rights. Courts in India have recognized that fundamental rights cannot be viewed in isolation but must be understood in the context of directive principles. This approach allows for a broader interpretation of fundamental rights that takes into account the goals and objectives outlined in the directive principles.
A large number of people accept the incorporation of Directive Principles of State Policy in Part IV of the Constitution and justify it on several grounds.
- Directive Principles are backed by Public Opinion : Though it is true that Directive Principles are non-justiciable and also these are not backed by legal sanctions. However, these are backed by public opinion, which is in reality not the real sanction behind law.
- Provide for a Welfare State : The Directive Principles clearly lay down the philosophical foundations of a welfare polity and make it a responsibility of the state to secure it through welfare legislation. These also provide that a welfare polity means the securing of Justice - social, economic and political for all the people.
- Importance as Moral Ideals : DPSP are indeed of the nature of moral ideals. They constitute a moral code for the State. This does not reduce their value. Through these the founding fathers placed before the nation the goals and ideals which are to be achieved through future legislation. State is a human social institute and the government is always made and managed by the people. Just as people have a model code which guides their behaviour in society, likewise there is every justification of a moral code designed to guide the political behaviour of the men who form and run the government of the State.
- Directive Principles constitute a guide for the State : The incorporation of Part IV of the Constitution was governed by the decision to provide a guide to the government for making policies and laws for the purpose of securing justice. This was the reason which made the founding fathers lay down that these were “fundamental in the governance of the country.”
- Source of Continuity in Policies : The Directive Principles of State Policy are a source of continuity in the policies of the government. In a democratic system, the government changes after regular intervals and each new government has to make policies and laws. The presence of Directive Principles ensure that every government, irrespective of the fact whether it is a formed by a rightist or a leftist or neo-rightlist or neo-leftist party, will exercise the law-making and executive power on the basis of the Directive Principles which every government has to accept these as fundamental principles of the country.
- Yardstick for measuring the worth of the Government : DPSP constitutes a yardstick with which the people can measure the worth of the government. A government which ignores the task of implementing the directive principles can be rejected by the people in favour of a government by another political party which is expected to give due importance to the task of securing the Directive Principles.
- Helpful in the interpretation of the Constitution : The Directive Principles constitute a manifesto of the aims and goals of the nation. These reflect the wisdom of the founding fathers, the goals of the freedom struggle and the demands of the national public opinion. These specify into clear-cut goals the objectives stated in the Preamble of the Constitution. These reflect the philosophy of the Constitution and hence provide useful help to the courts in their work of interpreting the Constitution.
- Ambiguity of Directly Principles is Useful : The Directive Principles have been couched in words which are not very rigid in their meanings. This ambiguity has been useful insofar as it helps the State to interpret and apply these principles in accordance with the socio-economic environment which prevails at a given time. The Directly Principles are specific enough to guide the path of the State but at the same time ambiguous enough to help the State in moulding these in accordance with the changing times and social interests and needs.
Thus, the inclusion in the Constitution of Part IV containing the Directly Principles of State Policy has been a welcome, worthwhile and useful decision.
This article on Significance of Directive Principles of State Policy is contributed by Dipshikha Anand. If you like LawStudyPoint.com do follow us on our Twitter handle.