Question

Untouchability is abolished and its practice is punishable in accordance with the law according to
A. Article 15 of the Constitution
B. Article 16 of the Constitution
C. Article 17 of the Constitution
D. Article 15(4) of Constitution

Answer 1

Hint: article 17 states that untouchability is abolished in India and its practice is punishable.

Complete Answer:
Article 17 of the Indian Constitution talks about the abolition of untouchability. According to article 17, "Untouchability" is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden. The enforcement of any disability arising out of "Untouchability" shall be an offense punishable in accordance with the law. The other aforementioned articles are as follows:
Article 15: Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth:
(1) The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth, or any of them.
(2) No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them, be subject to any disability, liability, restriction or condition with regard to- (a) access to shops, public restaurants, hotels and places of public entertainment; or (b) the use of wells, tanks, bathing ghats, roads and places of public resort maintained wholly or partly out of State funds or dedicated to the use of the general public.
(3) Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from making any special provision for women and children.
(4) Nothing in this article or in clause (2) of Article 29 shall prevent the State from making any special provision for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.
Article 16: Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment:
(1) There shall be equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters relating to employment or appointment to any office under the State.
(2) No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth, residence or any of them, be ineligible for, or discriminated against in respect of, any employment or office under the State.
(3) Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from making any provision for the reservation of appointments or posts in favor of any backward class of citizens which, in the opinion of the State, is not adequately represented in the services under the State.
Article 17: Abolition of Untouchability: "Untouchability" is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden. The enforcement of any disability arising out of "Untouchability" shall be an offense punishable in accordance with the law.
So, the correct answer is Option C.

Note: The Protection of Civil Rights Act (1955), prescribed the punishment for practicing untouchability. It was enacted in the parliament in the sixth year of the Republic of India.