Verbatim text
(a) to freedom of speech and expression;
(b) to assemble peaceably and without arms;
(c) to form associations or unions;
(d) to move freely throughout the territory of India;
(e) to reside and settle in any part of the territory
of India;
1[and]
2* * * * *
(g) to practise any profession, or to carry on any
occupation, trade or business.
3[(2) Nothing in sub-clause ( a) of clause (1) shall affect
the operation of any existing law, or prevent the Statefrom making any law, in so far as such law imposes
reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right
conferred by the said sub-clause in the interests of
4[the
sovereignty and integrity of India,] the security of theState, friendly relations with foreign States, public order,decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court,defamation or incitement to an offence.]
(3) Nothing in sub-clause ( b) of the said clause shall
affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it
imposes, or prevent the State from making any law
imposing, in the interests of
4[the sovereignty and integrity
of India or] public order, reasonable restrictions on theexercise of the right conferred by the said sub-clause.
(4) Nothing in sub-clause ( c) of the said clause shall
affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it
imposes, or prevent the State from making any law
imposing, in the interests of
4[the sovereignty andProtection of
certain rightsregarding freedomof speech, etc.
1Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 2 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
2Sub-clause ( f) omitted by s. 2, ibid. (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
3Subs. by the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951, s. 3, for cl. (2) (with retrospective
effect).
4Ins. by the Constitution (Sixteenth Amendment) Act, 1963, s. 2.
integrity of India or] public order or morality, reasonable
restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred by the
said sub-clause.
(5) Nothing in 1[sub-clauses ( d) and ( e)] of the said
clause shall affect the operation of any existing law in so
far as it imposes, or prevent the State from making any
law imposing, reasonable restrictions on the exercise ofany of the rights conferred by the said sub-clauses either
in the interests of the general public or for the protection
of the interests of any Scheduled Tribe.
(6) Nothing in sub-clause ( g) of the said clause shall
affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it
imposes, or prevent the State from making any lawimposing, in the interests of the general public, reasonable
restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred by the
said sub-clause, and, in particular,
2[nothing in the said
sub-clause shall affect the operation of any existing law
in so far as it relates to, or prevent the State from making
any law relating to,—
(i) the professional or technical qualifications
necessary for practising any profession or carrying on
any occupation, trade or business, or
(ii) the carrying on by the State, or by a corporation
owned or controlled by the State, of any trade,
business, industry or service, whether to theexclusion, complete or partial, of citizens or
otherwise].
What this means
- The index files this text under article 19 of the Constitution of India.
- The passage runs to about 522 words.
- Read plainly, it mentions freedom of expression — it protects speaking, writing, publishing or holding an opinion (the words used: “freedom of speech”); it mentions assembly and association — it protects gathering together or joining a group, union or party (the words used: “assemble”); it mentions movement and residence — it concerns moving around, living where you choose, or leaving the country (the words used: “move freely”).
The row’s stored title is a body fragment, not a heading (“(1) All citizens shall have the right—”), so it is not used as the provision’s title here.
The index gives this passage an article number but stores a body fragment where a heading would be, so the number could not be cross-checked against the text. Check it against the official Constitution before relying on it in a citation.
This is a mechanical reading aid generated from the text above by matching words in it. It is not legal advice, not a lawyer’s interpretation, and not a substitute for the provision itself.
How to cite this
Constitution of India, article 19, Portable Lawyer, https://www.portablelawyer.app/provision/b49c40f0-9241-4f53-ae69-c8fe5f1aa4ff (accessed 25 October 2026).
Canonical URL: https://www.portablelawyer.app/provision/b49c40f0-9241-4f53-ae69-c8fe5f1aa4ff
Accessed 25 October 2026.
Link to the canonical URL above, not to a #section-… fragment on the jurisdiction page — the fragment is a scroll position, this URL is the provision.