Articles 17 and 18 remove social barriers and titles of nobility to ensure equal social status for all citizens.
1. Article 17: Abolition of Untouchability
Article 17 reads: "Untouchability is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden. The enforcement of any disability arising out of Untouchability shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law."
- Absolute Right: Unlike Article 19, Article 17 has no constitutional exceptions. It is absolute.
- Horizontal Effect: Enforceable against both the State and private individuals (Supreme Court in PUDR v. Union of India).
- Enabling Acts: Parliament enacted the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 (originally the Untouchability Offenses Act) and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 to penalize practice of untouchability.
2. Article 18: Abolition of Titles
To establish democratic equality, the State is forbidden from creating feudal or noble titles (like Rai Bahadur, Sir, Maharaja):
- No title, not being a military or academic distinction, shall be conferred by the State.
- No citizen of India shall accept any title from any foreign State.
📜 Landmark Precedent: Balaji Raghavan v. Union of India (1996)
The constitutional validity of national awards like the Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, and Padma Shri was challenged. The Supreme Court held that these awards are not "titles" under Article 18 because they recognize merit and public service. However, the Court warned that recipients must not use these awards as prefixes or suffixes to their names (e.g. they cannot write 'Padma Shri A' on stationery).
The constitutional validity of national awards like the Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, and Padma Shri was challenged. The Supreme Court held that these awards are not "titles" under Article 18 because they recognize merit and public service. However, the Court warned that recipients must not use these awards as prefixes or suffixes to their names (e.g. they cannot write 'Padma Shri A' on stationery).