Article 27 (Part III – Fundamental Rights)
Continuing the Right to Freedom of Religion, Article 27 protects individuals from being compelled to pay taxes for the promotion or maintenance of any particular religion. It ensures that public funds are not used to favour one religion over others. The purpose of Article 27 is to maintain the secular character of the Indian State. Since India does not follow any state religion, the government cannot force citizens to financially support religious activities through taxation. However, this does not mean that the State cannot collect general taxes that may indirectly benefit religious institutions, such as funding for infrastructure or heritage conservation. The key principle is that taxes cannot be specifically imposed to promote or support a particular religion. For example, a law requiring citizens to pay a special tax exclusively for building or maintaining a religious institution would violate Article 27. But general administrative charges or regulatory fees are permitted...