Provision:
Equality of Citizens
All citizens are equal before the law and are entitled to equal protection of the law.
There shall be no discrimination on the basis of sex alone.
Nothing in this Article prevents the State from making special provisions for the protection of women and children.
Meaning:
Article 25 enshrines the principle of equality, ensuring that every citizen—regardless of gender, class, or background—is treated equally before the law and enjoys equal legal protection.
While it prohibits discrimination based solely on sex, it also permits affirmative action, allowing the state to make special laws or policies to protect women and children, recognising their particular vulnerabilities in society.
Application:
When laws apply equally to all individuals, such as criminal or civil laws, they reflect Article 25’s mandate. For example, both men and women must be equally held accountable under the law, and both should benefit from legal protections.
At the same time, government schemes like women-only public transport services or child protection laws are constitutionally valid as they fall under the permitted special provisions for women and children. Discrimination that is arbitrary or not legally justified would violate this Article.