Human Rights in relation to Water in India

Abstract

Constitution of India deals with certain fundamental rights of human. There is one such right which is the basic need of human beings, but still it is not given due importance in our constitution, that is ‘Water’. A dispute in relation to water has existed in India since ancient time and this problem still persist and is not on the verge to be resolved even today in India. Supreme Court held in Chameli Singh Vs State of Uttar Pradesh that right to live guaranteed in any civilized society implies the right to food, water, decent environment, education, medical care and shelter. These are basic human right known to any civilized society. All civil, political, social and cultural right enshrined in the universal declaration on human rights and convention or under the constitution of India cannot be exercised without these basic human rights. This paper is an attempt to focus on one of these basic rights. And it is THE WATER. This is not yet explicitly mentioned in the constitution of India. Here the discussion lies on the fact that whether the provisions made so far are properly implemented or not? And what is still needed to resolve this basic problem. Water is given the fundamental status in several countries, why India is lacking in it? Keyword: Constitution, Fundamental Rights, Water.