Prof. Kishu Daswani Highlights Constitutional Safeguards for Religious Freedom at Sadbhav Sammelan

Goa, February 7, 2026: Prof. Kishu Daswani of Government Law College and St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, delivered a session on “Balancing Religious Morality with Constitutional Morality” at the Sadbhav Sammelan 2026, organised by the Society of Pilar.

Addressing participants, he said the Indian Constitution functions as a charter of liberty in which authority flows from the people to the State. He stressed that democracy is rooted not merely in majority rule but in the supremacy of constitutional law and the protection of fundamental rights, including religious freedom.

Prof. Daswani explained that India’s model of secularism differs from Western interpretations. Rather than excluding religion from public life, the Constitution provides space for all faiths to flourish while maintaining a principled distance between the State and any particular religion.

Focusing on Article 25, he noted that the Constitution guarantees freedom of conscience and the right to profess, practise and propagate religion to all persons. However, he added that this freedom is subject to reasonable restrictions in the interests of public order, morality, health and the protection of other fundamental rights.

He also highlighted how courts distinguish between essential religious practices and those of a secular or administrative nature, the latter being open to State regulation. Such constitutional safeguards, he said, are vital for maintaining harmony in a religiously diverse society.

The session concluded with a call for greater constitutional literacy and dialogue to address tensions between faith and law in contemporary India.

By Br. Malvino Alfonso

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