Article 26 of Constitution of India – Freedom to manage religious affairs
Article 26 of Constitution of India deals with Article 26 of Constitution of India – Freedom to manage religious affairs
Original Text of Article 26 of Constitution of India
Subject to public order, morality and health, every religious denomination or any section thereof shall have the right—
(a) to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes;
(b) to manage its own affairs in matters of religion;
(c) to own and acquire movable and immovable property; and
(d) to administer such property in accordance with law.
Questions related to Article 26 of Constitution of India
Article 26 gives every religious denomination or its sections the right to manage their own religious affairs, including establishing institutions, managing property, and conducting rituals, under the Constitution of India.
Not entirely. While Article 26 grants autonomy, it is subject to public order, morality, and health. This means the State can regulate practices that may harm public interest, as explained in several Indian Kanoon cases.
The State can regulate secular aspects like administration or financial management of temples or trusts, but it cannot interfere with core religious practices, a distinction upheld by courts under this Article of the Indian Constitution.
Article 25 focuses on individual religious freedom, while Article 26 deals with the collective rights of religious groups to manage their own institutions and affairs, both forming a strong foundation in the Indian Constitution.
You can visit Indian Kanoon to explore important rulings where Article 26 was debated—especially in cases about temple management, religious trusts, and the autonomy of religious institutions under the Articles of Indian Constitution.
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