Constitution of India · Part III: Fundamental Rights · Right to Equality

Article 17: Abolition of Untouchability

Official text

Source: India Code (Legislative Department), the official text of the Constitution of India. As amended up to the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023. Text as on 10 September 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.

Supreme Court judgments citing the article 17

• Kiran v. Rajkumar Jivraj Jain & Anr.
  2025 INSC 10671 September 2025Disposed of

  Whether the High Court was correct in allowing the pre-arrest bail to respondent-accused u/s.438 Cr.PC in respect of alleged commission of offenses punishable u/ss.118(1), 115(1), 189(2), 189(4), 190, 191(2), 191(3),…

• In Re: T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India and Others
  2025 INSC 9966 August 2025Directions issued

  (i) Whether the paver blocks should be permitted to be laid on the road between the Dasturi Naka to Shivaji Maharaj Statue, which is the main road that connects Matheran from Dasturi Railway Station to the last point…

• Vibhor Garg v. Neha
  2025 INSC 82914 July 2025Allowed

  Issue arose whether the conversation between spouses secretly recorded by one of them could be permitted to be made admissible in evidence; whether in light of the Evidence Act and the Family Courts Act, 1984, a…

• Dr. Tanvi Behl v. Shrey Goel & Ors.
  2025 INSC 12529 January 2025Disposed of

  Whether providing domicile/residence-based reservation in admission to Postgraduate (PG) Medical Courses within the State Quota is constitutionally invalid and impermissible; Difference between domicile and residence…

• State of Andhra Pradesh and Others v. Dr. Rao, V.B.J. Chelikani and Others
  2024 INSC 89425 November 2024Disposed of

  Issue arose that whether the Government, like any private individual, have the absolute discretion to frame policy, distribute resources and enter into a contract with whomsoever it pleases, on any terms and conditions…

• Sukanya Shantha v. Union of India & Ors.
  2024 INSC 7533 October 2024Disposed of

  Matter pertains to caste-based discrimination in the prisons in the country.

• Shajan Skaria v. The State of Kerala & Anr.
  2024 INSC 62523 August 2024Appeal(s) allowed

  Whether Section 18 of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 imposes an absolute bar on the grant of anticipatory bail in cases registered under the said Act; when can it be said…

• Dr. Balram Singh v. Union of India & Ors.
  2023 INSC 95020 October 2023Directions issued

  Implementation of the provisions of Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 and the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993.…

• Supriyo @ Supriya Chakraborty & Anr. v. Union
  2023 INSC 92017 October 2023Disposed of
• Sri Gulam Mustafa v. The State of Karnataka & Anr.
  2023 INSC 51110 May 2023Appeal(s) allowed
• Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India
  2023 INSC 1902 March 2023Partly allowed
• Haji Abdul Gani Khan & Anr. v. Union of India &
  2023 INSC 12413 February 2023Dismissed
• Central Board of Dawoodi Bohra Community & Anr. v. The State of Maharashtra &Anr.
  2023 INSC 11510 February 2023Directions issued
• Kaushal Kishor v. State of Uttar Pradesh & Ors.
  2023 INSC 43 January 2023Reference answered
• Janhit Abhiyan v. Union of India
  2022 INSC 11757 November 2022Disposed of
• Sukhbiri Devi & Ors v. Union of India & Ors.
  2022 INSC 103729 September 2022Dismissed
• Ramawatar v. State of Madhya Pradesh
  2021 INSC 66425 October 2021Appeal(s) allowed
• Patan Jamal Vali v. The State of Andhra Pradesh
  2021 INSC 27227 April 2021Disposed of
• Prathvi Raj Chauhan v. Union of India & Others
  2020 INSC 15710 February 2020Disposed of
• Kantaru Rajeevaru v. Indian Young Lawyers Association Thr. Its General Secretary and Ors.
  2019 INSC 124814 November 2019Directions issued
• Dist. Collector Satara & Anr. v. Mangesh Nivrutti Kashid
  2019 INSC 11061 October 2019Appeal(s) allowed
• Union of India v. State of Maharashtra and Ors.
  2019 INSC 11021 October 2019Allowed
• Indian Young Lawyers Assn. v. State of Kerala 561 Indian Young Lawyers Association & Ors.V. the State of Kerala & Ors.
  2017 INSC 104028 September 2018Appeal(s) allowed
• Joseph Shine v. Union of India
  2018 INSC 89827 September 2018Appeal(s) allowed
• Justice K. S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) v. Union of India & Ors.
  2018 INSC 88026 September 2018Disposed of
• Navtej Singh Johar & Ors. v. Union of India Thr. Secretary Ministry of Law and Justice
  2018 INSC 7906 September 2018Disposed of
• Shayara Bano v. Union of India and Others
  2017 INSC 78522 August 2017Gujral . Matters disposed of
• Manju Devi v. Onkarjit Singh Ahluwalia @ Omkarjeet Singh & Others
  2017 INSC 127624 March 2017Appeal(s) allowed
• National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors.
  2016 INSC 114015 December 2016Disposed of
• Jindal Stainless Ltd. & Anr v. State of Haryana & Ors
  2016 INSC 101911 November 2016Directions issued
• Adi Saiva Sivachariyargal Nala Sangam & Ors. v. The Government of Tamil Nadu &Anr.
  2015 INSC 92916 December 2015Disposed of
• Animal Welfare Board of India v. A. Nagaraja & Ors.
  2014 INSC 3707 May 2014Disposed of
• Safai Karamchari Andolan & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors.
  2014 INSC 21227 March 2014Disposed of
• State of Punjab v. Saul Sabhlok and Ors.
  2013 INSC 10615 February 2013Disposed of
• Bachpan Bachao Andolan v. Union of India & Others
  2011 INSC 30718 April 2011Hearing Adjourned
• Kailas & Others v. State of Maharashtra Tr. Taluka P.S.
  2011 INSC 155 January 2011Dismissed
• S.D. Joshi & Ors. v. High Court of Judicature at Bombay & Ors.
  2010 INSC 76911 November 2010Dismissed
• Amarinder Singh v. Special Commitiee, Punjab Vidhan ,Sabha & Others
  2010 INSC 24026 April 2010Disposed of
• Ashoka Kumar Thakur v. Union of India & Ors
  2008 INSC 47310 April 2008Disposed of
• P.K. Arjunan v. State of Kerala
  2007 INSC 29014 March 2007Dismissed
• M. Nagaraj and Ors. v. Union of India and Ors
  2006 INSC 71119 October 2006Reference answered
• Kuldip Nayar v. Union of India and Ors.
  2006 INSC 53222 August 2006Dismissed
• Jagdish Ram v. State of Rajasthan and Anr.
  2004 INSC 1459 March 2004Dismissed
• Special Reference No. I of 2002 v. .
  2002 INSC 44528 October 2002Reference answered
• N. Adithayan v. The Travancore Devaswom Board and Ors.
  2002 INSC 4253 October 2002Dismissed
• State of Gujarat and Anr. v. Honble High Court of Gujarat
  1998 INSC 38024 September 1998Disposed of
• Air India Statutory Corporation v. United Labour Union and Ors.
  1996 INSC 14426 December 1996Appeals dismissed.
• Sh. Heikham Surchandra Singh and Ors. Etc. v. The Representative of "Lois" Kakching, Manipur (A Scheduled Caste Uplift Body) and Ors.
  1996 INSC 11739 October 1996Disposed of
• The Schedule Castes and Scheduled Tribes Officers Welfare Council v. State of Uttar Pradesh and Anr.
  1996 INSC 108019 September 1996Appeal(s) allowed
• M/S. Gujarat Machinery Manufacturers Ltd. v. Collector, Central Excise, Baroda.
  1996 INSC 103911 September 1996Appeal(s) allowed
• Sh. A.S. Narayana Deekshjtulu Etc. Etc. v. State of Andhra Pradesh and Ors.
  1996 INSC 41119 March 1996Dismissed
• State of M.P. and Anr. v. Ram Kishna Balothia and Anr.
  1995 INSC 996 February 1995Appeal(s) allowed
• S.R. Bommai v. Union of India and Ors.
  1994 INSC 11111 March 1994