Previous Year Question
Which one of the following is NOT correctly matched?
Article 39 A — Equal Justice and free legal aid
Article 40 — Organisation of Village Panchayats
Article 44 — Uniform Civil Code
Article 48 — Separation of Judiciary from Executive
Correct Answer: D
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is option (d), because separation of the Judiciary from the Executive is provided under Article 50, not Article 48.
Article 39A deals with Equal Justice and Free Legal Aid. It was inserted by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976, and seeks to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities.
Article 40 directs the State to take steps for the organisation of Village Panchayats and endow them with powers and authority necessary to function as units of self-government.
Article 44 directs the State to endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code for citizens throughout India.
Article 48 actually concerns the organisation of agriculture and animal husbandry. It directs the State to organise them on modern and scientific lines and contains provisions relating to preservation and improvement of cattle breeds. Article 50 expressly provides for separation of the Judiciary from the Executive.
Thus, the useful sequence is—39A = Equal Justice/Free Legal Aid; 40 = Village Panchayats; 44 = Uniform Civil Code; 48 = Agriculture & Animal Husbandry; 50 = Separation of Judiciary from Executive.