Question

Name few titles that have been abolished?
Which titles are permitted?​

Answer 1

Answer:

1. Abolition of titles:

(1) No title, not being a military or academic distinction, shall be conferred by the State.

(2) No citizen of India shall accept any title from any foreign State.

(3) No person who is not a citizen of India shall, while he holds any office of profit or trust under the State, accept without the consent of the President any title from any foreign State.

(4) No person holding any office of profit or trust under the State shall, without the consent of the President, accept any present, emolument, or office of any kind from or under any foreign State.

Explanation:

Article 18(1) abolishes all titles. It prohibits the State to confer titles on anybody whether a citizen or a non-citizen. Military and academic distinctions are, however, exempted from the prohibition. Thus, a university can give title or honor on a man of merit. Clause (2) prohibits a citizen of India from accepting any title from any foreign State. Clause (3) prohibits a person not being a citizen of India, but holding any office of profit or trust under the State, from accepting any title from any foreign State without the consent of the President. Clause (4) provides that no person citizen or non citizen holding any office of profit or trust, shall, without consent of the President, accept any present or emolument or office of any kind from or under any foreign State.. Clauses (3) and (4) have been added to ensure that a non-citizen should remain loyal to the State i.e. do not commit the breach of trust reposed in him.

A ‘title’ is something that hangs to one’s name, as an appendage (either prefix or suffix e.g. Sir, Nawab, Maharaja, etc.). A democracy should not create titles and titular glories. This will go against the realization of social equality.

However, the recent conferment of titles of “Bharat Ratna”, “Padma Vibhushan”, “Padma Shri”, etc. (introduced in 1954) are said to be not prohibited under Article 18 as they merely denote State recognition of good work by citizens in the various fields of activity. It may be noted that Article 18 does not secure any fundamental right but imposes a restriction on executive and legislative power. Further, conferring of titles offended against the fundamental principle of equality of all citizens guaranteed by Article 14.

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