Constitution Section 25 — Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion

Part III — FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS — Right to Freedom of Religion

Constitutional

Summary

All persons have the right to follow their own conscience and to freely profess, practice, and spread their religion, as long as this does not disturb public order, morality, or health, and is consistent with other fundamental rights in this part of the Constitution. This right does not stop the government from keeping or making laws that regulate or restrict economic, financial, political, or other non-religious activities linked to religious practice. The government may also make laws for social welfare and reform, or to open up Hindu religious institutions of a public nature to all classes and sections of Hindus. For this purpose, the term "Hindus" includes Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists, and the wearing and carrying of a kirpan is considered part of the Sikh religion.

Official Text

(1) Subject to public order, morality and health and to the other provisions of this Part, all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practice and propagate religion.

(2) Nothing in this article shall affect the operation of any existing law or prevent the State from making any law—

(a) regulating or restricting any economic, financial, political or other secular activity which may be associated with religious practice;

(b) providing for social welfare and reform or the throwing open of Hindu religious institutions of a public character to all classes and sections of Hindus.Explanation I.—The wearing and carrying of kirpans shall be deemed to be included in the profession of the Sikh religion.Explanation II.—In sub-clause (b) of clause (2), the reference to Hindus shall be construed as including a reference to persons professing the Sikh, Jaina or Buddhist religion, and the reference to Hindu religious institutions shall be construed accordingly.