Correct Option (b):
Article 21 of the Constitution of India guarantees the Right to Life and Personal Liberty. The Supreme Court of India has, through various pronouncements, interpreted this fundamental right broadly to encompass a spectrum of rights essential for human dignity and personal autonomy. This expansive interpretation includes the right to marry a person of one's choice. The Court has consistently affirmed that this right is an integral component of an individual's personal liberty and dignity, as notably upheld in cases such as Shafin Jahan v. Asokan K.M. (Hadiya case), where it was explicitly stated that the choice of a partner is a fundamental right under Article 21.
Incorrect Options:
Article 19: This Article deals with the protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech, etc., including freedom of speech and expression, assembly, association, movement, residence, and profession. It does not specifically safeguard the right to marry a person of one's choice.
Article 25: This Article guarantees the freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practice, and propagate religion. While marriage may have religious aspects, Article 25 primarily concerns religious freedom and does not directly confer the right to marry a person of one's choice as a matter of personal liberty.
Article 29: This Article protects the interests of minorities, specifically their right to conserve their distinct language, script, or culture, and their right to admission into educational institutions. It does not pertain to an individual's right to marry a person of their choice.