ARTICLE 21 AND THE EVERYDAY INDIAN: RIGHTS WE DON’T REALISE WE USE
AUTHOR – VIVEK KISHANDAS VAISHNAV, STUDENT AT DECCAN EDUCATION SOCIETY’S SHRI NAVALMAL FIRODIA LAW COLLEGE
BEST CITATION – VIVEK KISHANDAS VAISHNAV, ARTICLE 21 AND THE EVERYDAY INDIAN: RIGHTS WE DON’T REALISE WE USE, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (10) OF 2026, PG. 37-42, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344. DOI – https://doi.org/10.65393/IJLRV6I105
Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty, is among the most expansively interpreted provisions in constitutional history. Yet, despite its vast scope, the majority of Indian citizens remain unaware of the extent to which it governs their daily existence. This article seeks to bridge that gap by tracing the judicial evolution of Article 21 from its narrow interpretation in A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras (1950) to its transformative expansion in Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978) and mapping its application across everyday life situations including travel, environmental rights, healthcare, privacy, and livelihood. Through an analysis of landmark Supreme Court and High Court judgments, this article demonstrates that Article 21 functions as a living, breathing guarantee that silently protects citizens from the moment they wake until they sleep. The article concludes by equipping ordinary citizens with practical remedies for common violations, arguing that an informed citizenry is the most effective guardian of constitutional rights.
Keywords: Article 21, Indian constitution, Evolution of article 21, M.C. Mehta, Everyday rights, Judicial Interpretation, Golden triangle.