Uma Shanker IAS officer He has been accused of violating service rules and directed not to propagate his religious view publicly even after office hours He has been doing it for the last 3 years Article 25 of the constitution confers freedom of religious transmission of faith. Can a delegated legislation deny the fundamental right, even though it has been not challenged so far for the last 66 years of Independent India and does it not override all other rules? Can a contractual agreement undermine rights under art 25 of the Constitution Reasonable restrictions are a constitutional norm as applicable under emergency, armed forces, even Judiciary. He has not been accused of partisanship, eve subtle bias in dispensation of duties to his clan or accused of conversions to other faith. Citing law and order problems is understandable as legitimate concerns of the administration. He is spreading his beliefs in the confines of the church, which is normally open to the believers of faith and is not an open invitation to others He is convinced of his belief and says so to his believers in particular, but it is the outsiders, who are raising objections menacingly. Is he creating any law and order problems or the so called rabid Nationalists organizations to impose their will, encouraged by party in power, He has faced 3 murderous attacks on his life but fortunately was saved by the law enforcing agencies .Momentarily he has accepted the directive of the superiors, but intends to take the issue at next level to defend his rights guaranteed under Constitution. The norm and conduct by traditions is necessarily the right stand. President Obama in his final address emphasized freedom under art 25 of Indian Constitution. Currently there seems to be intolerance towards faith of the minority community or dissuade by fear and violence. India is a multi religious, multi lingual Nations and this unique characteristic must be preserve the fabric of unity of a diverse national identity
Nelson Lopes Chinchinim
