(a) What is meant by the term ‘constitutional morality’? How does one uphold constitutional morality? (10 marks, 150 words) (b) What is meant by ‘crisis of conscience’? How does it manifest itself in the public domain? (10 marks, 150 words)

(a) Constitutional morality

Constitutional morality means fidelity to the values and spirit of the Constitution — not merely its literal text. Dr Ambedkar, borrowing from the historian George Grote, described it as a paramount reverence for constitutional forms combined with the freedom to criticise within those forms.

Its content includes the rule of law, due process, equality, individual liberty, pluralism, secularism, fraternity and respect for institutions. The Supreme Court has invoked it in Navtej Singh Johar (2018), Sabarimala and the NCT of Delhi case to test majoritarian claims against constitutional values.

One upholds it by: self-restraint and accountability of those in power; tolerance of dissent and minority rights; institutions acting within their limits; and citizens practising 'constitutional patriotism' rather than mere legalism.

(b) Crisis of conscience

A crisis of conscience is the acute inner conflict a person feels when an external demand — an order, pressure or convenience — clashes with their own deeply held moral convictions. It is the voice of the inner moral compass under duress.

In the public domain it manifests as: an officer asked to implement an illegal or unethical order; whistleblowing against wrongdoing in one's own organisation; conscientious objection or resignation on principle. It is resolved not by suppressing conscience but through moral courage — recording objections, following due process, and acting with integrity even at personal cost, as officers like Satyendra Dubey did.