THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND ITS IMPRINTS ON THE INDIAN LEGAL SYSTEM
AUTHOR – DON BENNY, STUDENT AT AMITY UNIVERSITY NOIDA
BEST CITATION – DON BENNY, THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND ITS IMPRINTS ON THE INDIAN LEGAL SYSTEM, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (14) OF 2025, PG. 152-162, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344. DOI – https://doi.org/10.65393/QOSO5401
Abstract
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted in 1948, stands as one of humanity’s most profound achievements. Emerging from the devastation of World War II, it marked a global commitment to uphold dignity, equality, and justice for every individual. While the UDHR itself is not a legally binding treaty, its moral and philosophical authority has profoundly shaped modern constitutional democracies, including India. The framers of the Indian Constitution drew deeply from its principles while drafting the Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy. This paper explores the historical development of the UDHR, its influence on the Indian legal system, and how its ideals have been realized through judicial interpretation and legislative evolution. It further examines specific areas women’s and children’s rights, religious freedom, education, and privacy demonstrating how the UDHR continues to inform India’s constitutional conscience in a rapidly changing world.
Keywords: Human rights, UDHR, Indian Constitution, equality, privacy, women’s rights, secularism, education.