”Meaning of Right to Life and extend”
(In the case of the Government of Bangladesh and others versus Professor Nurul Islam and Al-haj Nur Mohammad)
(Supreme Court of Bangladesh, High Court Division, later, Appellate Divison)
Hon’ble J, Present CJ Mr. Syed Mahmud Hossain (Author J)
Meaning of right to life:
1. RIGHT to life is not only limited to protection of life and limbs but also extends to the protection of health, enjoyment of pollution free water and air, bare necessaries of life, facilities for education, maternity benefit, maintenance and improvement of public health by creating and sustaining conditions congenial to good health and ensuring quality of life consistent to human dignity. …
2. CONSTITUTION of Bangladesh Articles 18(1), 31 and 32:
No one has any right to endanger the life of the people which includes their health and normal longevity of an ordinary healthy person. Articles 31 and 32 of the Constitution not only means protection of life and limbs necessary for full enjoyment of life but also includes amongst others protection of health and normal longevity of an ordinary human being. It is the obligation of the State to discourage smoking and consumption of tobacco materials and the improvement of public health by preventing advertisement of tobacco made products. Though the obligation under Article 18(1) of the Constitution cannot be enforced, State is bound to protect the health and longevity of the people living in the country as right to life guaranteed under Articles 31 and 32 of the Constitution includes protection of health and longevity of a man free from threats of man-made hazards. Right to life under the aforesaid Articles of the Constitution being fundamental right it can be enforced by this Court to remove any unjustified threat to health and longevity of the people as the same are included in the right to life.
3. WHEN the right to life of the people is at stake, the legislature is under the obligation to enact law to protect such right as per directives of the Court. As such the question of encroaching upon the domain of the legislature by the Court does not arise.
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