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Human rights seem to refer to some inherent quality or value in human life which demands recognition, is backed by international agreements and defines a boundary in the treatment of our fellow human beings that should not be crossed. These are seen as those minimal rights which human beings are entitled to by virtue of being human beings, irrespective of any other consideration. Human rights are essential for full development of human personality and for human happiness. They are indispensable for physical and mental upliftment of the human race. These rights are inalienable because the enlightened conscience of the community would not want the surrender of rights by any person even of his own volition. These rights are inviolable because they are not only vital for the development of human personality but also because without them men would be reduced to the level of animals. These rights are expression of what is a life minimally worth living and are based upon primary material and immaterial necessities of life. In the Indian context, where life more than the law is the issue of struggle, explaining ´right´ is not always best achieved. No doubt, India could maintain apparently

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Dr Koyel Basu, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Jangipur College, Murshidabad, West Bengal, India takes an ardent interest in human rights which has been the topic of her doctoral dissertation. She has written research articles in national and international journals and some have been published in recent past.

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