Consider the following statements in relation to Article 14, “equality before law” and “equal protection of the laws”:
- Equality before the law is a more positive concept, implying the right to equality of treatment in equal circumstances.
- Equal protection of laws is a somewhat negative concept, implying the absence of any special privilege by reason of birth, creed or like.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Correct answer: D
Explanation
Both statements swap the two concepts. "Equality before law" is the negative concept of British origin, implying absence of any special privilege. "Equal protection of the laws" is the positive concept of American origin, implying equal treatment in equal circumstances. Since the question attaches the wrong description to each, neither statement is correct.