Article 26: How is Article 26

How is Article 26 different from Article 25? Article 25 protects individual rights to practice, profess, and propagate religion, while Article 26 safeguards the collective rights of religious denominations to manage their institutions and internal matters. This article explores the scope, limitations, and judicial interpretations of Article 26, shedding light on its significance in upholding India’s secular and pluralistic fabric. Article 26 grants every religious denomination the right to establish, maintain, manage and administer its own institutions, affairs, property and practices, subject to public order, morality and health. Learn the constitutional provisions, constituent assembly debates and supreme court judgements on this fundamental right. Freedom to manage religious affairs. —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.