About Article 25
- Article 25: Freedom of Conscience and Free Profession, Practice and Propagation of Religion
- Article 25 guarantees to all persons the freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practise and propagate religion, subject to certain constitutional limitations.
Key Provisions
- Available to: All persons, irrespective of citizenship.
- Freedom of conscience: The inner freedom of an individual to hold, change or not hold a religious belief.
- Profess: Openly declare or express one’s religious beliefs.
- Practise: Perform religious practices, rituals and ceremonies.
- Propagate: Spread or communicate one’s religious beliefs to others.
- Nature of the right: It is not absolute and is subject to public order, morality, health and other provisions of Part III.
Article 25(2) allows the State to:
- Regulate secular activities associated with religious practice.
- Make laws for social welfare and reform.
- Ensure access to Hindu religious institutions of a public character to all classes and sections of Hindus.
Article 25(2)(b):
- The expression “Hindus” includes persons professing the Sikh, Jain or Buddhist religion.
- The reference to Hindu religious institutions is accordingly interpreted for this specific constitutional purpose.
Conclusion
- Article 25 balances individual freedom of conscience and religious practice with the constitutional need to maintain public order, protect health and morality, and promote social welfare and reform.
| This concept has been elaborately discussed in the following article – Supreme Court Clarifies Rights Over National Song |