Democratic Rights Class 9 Civics NCERT Solutions & Notes

Ans:
(a) Workers from Bihar go to Punjab to work on the farms. (Right to Freedom)
(b) Christian missions set up a chain of missionary schools. (Cultural and Educational Rights)
(c) Men and women government employees get the same salary. (Right to Equality)
(d) Parents' property is inherited by their children. (Correct - This is a legal right, not a Fundamental Right)

Ans:
(a) Freedom to criticise the government. (Available)
(b) Freedom to participate in armed revolution. (Correct - Not available. Freedom of assembly must be peaceful and without arms.)
(c) Freedom to start a movement to change the government. (Available)
(d) Freedom to oppose the central values of the Constitution. (Available via peaceful speech)

Ans:
(a) Every country that is a democracy gives rights to its citizens.
(b) Every country that gives rights to its citizens is a democracy.

Valid Statement: (a) Every country that is a democracy gives rights to its citizens.
Reason: Rights are the very basis of a democracy. A democracy requires its citizens to have the right to express their opinions, form political parties, and vote freely. Without these basic rights, a system cannot be called a democracy. Statement (b) is incorrect because dictatorial countries might give some economic or social rights, but deny political rights, so they remain undemocratic.

Ans: Fundamental Rights are not just for adults; they are available to all citizens, including children. Specifically for children, the Right against Exploitation is crucial as it strictly bans child labor under the age of 14 in hazardous industries. Furthermore, the Right to Education (added under Right to Life/Freedom) guarantees free and compulsory education for all children between 6 to 14 years.

Ans: The US military secretly picked up around 600 people from all over the world and imprisoned them in Guantanamo Bay (Cuba) after the 9/11 attacks. They were held without trial, denied legal representation, and tortured. It teaches us that without enforceable rights, even powerful democratic governments can act unjustly and oppressively.

Ans: Saudi Arabia is ruled by a hereditary king. The citizens cannot form political parties, the media is heavily censored, and there is no freedom of religion (non-Muslims must practice their religion in private). Women were subjected to severe public restrictions, highlighting a complete lack of basic democratic rights.

Ans: Kosovo was a province in Yugoslavia with a majority of ethnic Albanians. The Serbian leader, Milosevic, wanted Serbian dominance. His government carried out a brutal massacre against the Albanians, burning their homes and killing thousands, showing the extreme dangers when a majority refuses to respect the rights of a minority.

Ans: Rights are reasonable claims of persons recognized by society and sanctioned by law. They are assurances that all citizens will be treated with dignity and equality, and that they are protected from oppression by other citizens or by the government.

Ans: Rights are necessary to sustain a democracy. They ensure every citizen has the right to vote and be elected. They protect the minorities from the oppression of the majority. They act as a guarantee that things will not go wrong even if the majority wants to misuse its power.

Ans: Rule of Law means that the laws apply in the same manner to all, regardless of a person’s status. This means that no person is above the law. There cannot be any distinction between a political leader, a government official, and an ordinary citizen.

Ans: The Constitution directly directs the government to put an end to the practice of untouchability. Article 17 of the Constitution explicitly abolishes untouchability in any form, making its practice a punishable offense, thereby ensuring social equality.

Ans: 1. Freedom of speech and expression.
2. Freedom to assemble peacefully without arms.
3. Freedom to form associations and unions. (Others include freedom to move freely, reside anywhere in India, and practice any profession).

Ans: It means the right to express one’s views freely through words, writing, printing, or pictures. However, it is not absolute. You cannot use this freedom to instigate violence, incite a rebellion, or spread false rumors that defame another person.

Ans: It protects citizens from three specific evils: traffic in human beings (buying and selling of humans), 'begar' or forced labor (making someone work for free or low wages under pressure), and child labor (employing children below 14 years in hazardous jobs).

Ans: India is a secular state because it does not establish any one religion as the official religion. Under the Right to Freedom of Religion, every person has the right to profess, practice, and propagate the religion of their choice, and the state treats all religions equally.

Ans: The majority community's culture can naturally survive, but minority cultures need special protection to avoid being overshadowed. These rights guarantee that linguistic and religious minorities can preserve their distinct culture and establish their own educational institutions.

Ans: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar called it the heart and soul because this right makes all other rights effective. If any of our Fundamental Rights are violated by the government or any person, we have the right to approach the Supreme Court or High Court directly to seek justice and restoration of our rights.

Ans: Under PIL, any citizen or group of citizens can approach the Supreme Court or a High Court for the protection of public interest against a particular law or action of the government. Even if a person is not directly affected, they can file a case on behalf of those whose rights are being violated.

Ans: The NHRC is an independent commission set up by law in 1993. It acts as a watchdog for human rights in the country. It cannot punish the guilty directly, but it can investigate cases of human rights violations, visit jails, and compel the government or courts to take action against the offenders.