Directive Principles of State Policy

Directive Principles of State Policy

The Directives Principles are contained in Part IV of the Constitution. They aim at providing the social and economic base of a genuine democracy. 

Important Directive Principles

Broadly speaking, there are three types of Directive Principles aimed at providing social and economic  justice and ushering in a welfare state. 

1. Social Economic Principles : They require the State:

• to provide adequate means of livelihood to all citizens
• to prevent concentration of wealth and means of production and ensure equitable distribution of wealth and material resources;
• to secure equal pay for equal work of men as well as women
• to ensure a decent standard of living and leisure for all workers;
• to provide necessary opportunities and facilities to children and youth to prevent their exploitation; and 
• to make efforts to secure the right to work, education and public assistance on case of unemployment, sickness, old age etc. 

2. Gandhian Principles : These are the embodiment of the Gandhian programme for reconstruction. These include :

• the establishment of village panchayats to function as units of self government;
• the promotion of educational and economic interests of weaker sections of society;
• the promotion of cottage industries;
• the prohibition of intoxicating drugs and drinks; and
• prevention of the slaughter of cows, calves and other milch cattle etc. 

3. Liberal Principles : The principles are based on liberal thinking and emphasise the need for;

• a uniform civil code for the country;
• free and compulsory education for all children up to the age of 14 years;
• separation of the judiciary and executive;
• organisation of agriculture and animal husbandry along scientific lines;
• securing the participation of workers in the management of industries;
• safeguarding the forest and wildlife of the country; and 
• protecting monument and places of artistic or historical importance. 

The real significance of the Directive Principles lies in the fact that they intend to provide social and economic democracy in the country without political democracy is a farce. 

Difference Between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles

• Fundamental Rights constiute limitations upon state action, while the Directive Principles are instruments of instructions to the Government. 
• The directive require to be implemented by legislation while fundamental rights are already provided in the Constitution. 
• * The Directives are not enforceable in the Courts and do not create any justifiable rights in favor of the individuals, while the Fundamental Rights are enforceable by the Courts {Ref. : Art. 32,37,226(1)}.
• In case of any conflict between fundamental rights and directive principles the former should prevail in the Courts. 
• 42nd Amendment Act ensured that though the directive themselves are not directly enforceable it would be totally immune from unconstitutionality on the ground of contravention of the fundamental rights conferred by Arts. 14 and 19.
• This attempt to confer a primacy upon the directive against the fundamental rights was foiled by the decision of the Supreme Court in Minerva Mills Case to the effect that a law would be protected by Art. 31C only if it has been made to implement the directive in Art. 39(b) - (c) and not any of the Directive included in  Part IV.