Human rights are essential for the protection and maintenance of the dignity of the individuals. They create conditions in which every individual can develop his personality to the fullest extent. In India, the full realization of human rights is a distant dream. It cannot be easily or quickly achieved. Although recent years have seen remarkable efforts by the governments in India to promote human rights like many other developing countries, still much has to be done for the better protection of human rights.

Human beings are rational beings. They by virtue of their being human possess certain basic and inalienable rights which are commonly known as human rights. Since these rights belong to them because of their very existence, they become operative with their birth. Human rights being the birth rights are, therefore, inherent in all the individuals irrespective of their caste, creed, religion, sex and nationality.

Former Chief Justice of India J S Verma has rightly stated that “human dignity is the quintessence of human rights.1 All those rights which are essential for the protection and maintenance of dignity of the individuals and create conditions in which every individual can develop his personality to the fullest extent may be termed human rights. Human rights being essential for the all-round development of the personality of the individuals in the society must be necessarily protected and made available to all the individuals. They must be preserved, cherished and defended if peace and prosperity are to be achieved. Human rights are very essential for a meaningful life. Because of their immense significance to human beings, human rights are also called fundamental rights, basic rights, inherent rights, natural rights and birth rights.

Law Review Journal, Human Rights, India, Evolution, Assyrian laws, Hittiti laws, Fundamental Rights, Human Rights.