Constitutional morality in India:
Constitutional morality in India has gained renewed attention amid ongoing debates on institutional independence, rule of law, and ethical governance, highlighting its critical role in shaping democratic conduct and upholding constitutional values. It is defined as a “paramount reverence for the forms of the Constitution” that ensures obedience to lawful authority while allowing freedom of expression and dissent.It refers to the adherence to the Constitution not just in letter, but in spirit.The idea of constitutional morality was introduced by the British historian George Grote as a balance between freedom and restraint, where citizens uphold constitutional authority while retaining the right to openly critique those in power. Dr. Ambedkar’s Thought on Constitutional Morality: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar invoked Grote’s idea to stress the importance of cultivating a deep respect for constitutional processes. Ambedkar observed that “constitutional morality is not a natural sentiment-it has to be cultivated”.
