9. Draft Constitution as published in the Gazette of India, dated 26th February 1948 with Dr. Ambedkar’s letter dated 21st February 1948 to Dr. Rajendra Prasad,President of the Constituent Assembly of India - Page 146

THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION 113

THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY, FEB. 26,1948 145

Prohibition of traffic in human beings and enforced labour

  1. (1) Traffic in human beings and begar and other similar forms of forced labour are prohibited and any contravention of this provision shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law.

(2) Nothing in this article shall prevent the State

from imposing compulsory service for public pur 5 poses. In imposing such service the State shall not

make any discrimination on the ground of race, re ligion, caste or class.

Prohibition of 18. No child below the age of fourteen years

employment of shall be employed to work in any factory or mine or

10 children in engaged in any other hazardous employment.

factories, etc.

Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion.

Freedom to manage religious affairs and to own, acquire and administer properties for religious or charitable purposes.

Rights relating to Religion
  1. (1) Subject to public order, morality and health and to the other provisions of this Part, all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion.

Explanation.—The wearing and carrying of kirpans shall be deemed to be included in the profession of the Sikh religion.

(2) Nothing in this article shall affect the operation of any existing law or preclude the State from making any law—

(a) regulating or restricting any economic, financial, political or other secular activity which may be associated with religious practice;

(b) for social welfare and reform or for throwing open Hindu religion institutions of a public character to any class or section of Hindus.

  1. Every religious denomination or any section thereof shall have the right—

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(a) to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes; 35 (b) to manage its own affairs in matters of religion;

(c) to own and acquire movable and immovable property; and 40