Question

What are rights? Why are they essential in a democracy? Give three reasons.

Answer 1

Rights are reasonable claims of persons recognised by society and sanctioned by law :-

(i) Rights are necessary for the very sustenance of a democracy. They protect minorities from the oppression of majority. They ensure that the majority cannot do whatever it likes.

(ii) Rights are guarantees which can be used when things go wrong. Things may go wrong when some citizens may wish to take away the rights of others. This usually happens when those in majority want to dominate those in minority. The government should protect the citizens' rights in such a situation.

(iii) But sometimes elected governments may not protect or may even attack the rights of their own citizens. That is why some rights need to be placed higher than the government, so that the government cannot violet these.