Punjab & Haryana High Court, Chandigarh
CitationAIR 1996 SC 1051, (1996) 2 SCC 549
CourtSupreme Court of India
Date15 December 1995
Year1996
BenchK. Ramaswamy, Faizan Uddin, B.N. Kirpal JJ.
Acts/ArticlesArticle 19, Article 21, Land Acquisition Act 1894
CategoryConstitutional Law

Key Principle Established

Right to shelter is a fundamental right under Article 21. Right to livelihood includes the right to adequate housing as part of the right to live with dignity.

Brief Facts

Land belonging to the appellants was acquired under the Land Acquisition Act for providing housing. The appellants challenged the acquisition.

Ratio Decidendi

The Supreme Court upheld the acquisition and declared that the right to shelter is a fundamental right under Article 21. The Court held that right to life includes right to livelihood, and right to livelihood includes right to adequate shelter — a place to live with dignity.

Impact & Significance

This judgment established right to housing as a fundamental right and justified land acquisition for housing schemes. It has been widely cited in cases involving slum demolition, housing rights of urban poor, and rehabilitation of displaced persons.

Tags & Related Topics

Constitutional Law Article 19 Article 21 Land Acquisition Act 1894
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Disclaimer

This judgment summary is for educational and research purposes. While care has been taken to accurately represent the ratio and findings, for authoritative reference always consult the original judgment text from official sources (SCC Online, AIR, Manupatra, or court websites).

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