Correct Option
The correct option isThe Right to Livelihood as an integral part of the Right to Life.
Explanation
Article 21 of the Constitution of India guarantees the Right to Life and Personal Liberty. Over time, the Supreme Court has expanded the scope of Article 21 through judicial interpretation to include various derivative rights essential for a dignified life, such as the right to privacy, health, and livelihood.
Detailed Analysis
- The Right to Livelihood as an integral part of the Right to Life. is Correct: In the landmark case of Olga Tellis vs. Bombay Municipal Corporation (1985), a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court held that the Right to Livelihood is an integral part of the Right to Life under Article 21. The Court reasoned that if the right to livelihood were not treated as a part of the constitutional right to life, the easiest way of depriving a person of their right to life would be to deprive them of their means of livelihood. While the state can evict pavement dwellers, it must follow a just and fair procedure established by law.
- The Right to Education as a fundamental right. is Incorrect: The Right to Education was declared a fundamental right under Article 21 in the Unnikrishnan vs. State of Andhra Pradesh (1993) judgment and subsequently formalized by the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act (2002), which inserted Article 21A. It was not the subject of the Olga Tellis case.
- The Right to Strike as a statutory right. is Incorrect: The Supreme Court has consistently held (e.g., in T.K. Rangarajan vs. Government of Tamil Nadu, 2003) that there is no fundamental right to strike. While the right to form associations is guaranteed under Article 19(1)The Right to Strike as a statutory right., it does not carry a concomitant right to strike.
- The Right to Freedom of Religion in public spaces. is Incorrect: The Right to Freedom of Religion is covered under Articles 25–28. The Olga Tellis judgment dealt specifically with the rights of pavement dwellers and the eviction process, not religious freedom.
Key Takeaway
Olga Tellis vs. Bombay Municipal Corporation (1985) expanded the scope of Article 21 by explicitly recognizing the Right to Livelihood as a facet of the Right to Life, ensuring that deprivation of livelihood must adhere to a procedure established by law.