LIBERTY AFTER FREEDOM Hardcover

Rohan J. Alva's Liberty After Freedom: A History of Article 21, Due Process and the Constitution of India offers a profound and meticulously researched exploration of Article 21, the fundamental right to life and personal liberty enshrined in the Indian Constitution. This seminal work delves into the contentious origins and transformative journey of this crucial article, revealing how its passage in the Constituent Assembly sparked fervent debate and profoundly shaped India's legal landscape. Alva decodes the intellectual beginnings of this paramount right, tracing its evolution from initial proposals for "due process of law" to the eventual adoption of "procedure established by law," a decision that initially sparked significant controversy. The book illuminates how Article 21, despite its fraught beginnings, has become the bedrock for progressive rights in modern India, enabling landmark judgments such as the right to privacy and the decriminalization of homosexuality. Drawing extensively on Constituent Assembly debates and a wide array of scholarly literature, Liberty After Freedom provides indispensable insights for legal scholars, students, and anyone keen to understand the genesis and enduring significance of India's most vital constitutional right.