Directive Principles which are mentioned in Part IV from Article 36 to Article 51 of the Indian Constitution. These principles are meant for the State to follow them in matters of administration and in making of laws. Because the basic aim behind these principles is establish a welfare State. These principles are differ from fundamental rights. While fundamental rights are enforceable, Directive Principles are not enforceable by the courts. The courts cannot compel the govt. to follow these principles. But it is the duty of every responsible government to translate these principles in to action to promote social and economic justice among citizens. These principles are fundamental in the governance of the country.
Meaning of directive principles of state policy
One of the distinct features of Indian Constitution is the inclusion of the Directive Principles of State Policy or DPSPs. Borrowed from the Irish Constitution, the makers of our Indian Constitution incorporated these principles in Part IV of the Constitution from Art. 36 to Art. 51. These principles were deemed fundamental in the governance of the country which epitomized the hopes and aspirations of the Indian people. The Irish Constitution had greatly impressed the members of the Constituent Assembly.
The members of the Constituent Assembly watched that most of the new constitutions that came in to being after World War I particularly of Germany and East European countries, had recognized that one of the chief functions of the State must be to foster and secure the social well-being of the citizens and the economic prosperity of the nation. Such attitude impressed our Constitution makers to incorporate these principles in our Constitution.
The Directive Principles are some affirmative instructions to the State authorities to secure to all citizens justice- social, economic and political; liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; equality of status and opportunity; and to promote among them all fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the nation. These principles underline the philosophy of Democratic Socialism to secure the high ideals set forth in the Preamble to the Constitution. It is the duty of the State to follow these principles both in the matter of administration as well as in the making of laws because the basic aim of the Directive Principles is to establish a welfare state where economic and social democracy might flourish.
The Directive Principles of State Policy may be classified under several groups, covering socio-economic rights to statements of international policy of the country. Significantly, these principles are not justiciable in character. They cannot be enforced by the courts of law if the State does not follow these principles in matters of administration as well as in making of laws.
But it is the duty of the State to follow them to promote fraternity and equality and to guarantee justice to the people of the country. Nevertheless, The Directive Principles are regarded as the basic foundation of democracy and welfare State. They are incorporated in the Constitution to meet economic and social aspirations of the people of our country. Political democracy requires for its success economic security. Therefore the makers of our Constitution incorporated the Directive Principles as supplement to the Fundamental Rights. The Directive Principles provide some economic principles to secure economic justice and security.
