MPPSC 2018 Prelims Paper-I · Question 90 of 100

Correct — A, whole of India. Section 1(2) of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 states that it extends to the whole of India. The Act enforces Article 17 (abolition of untouchability), a fundamental right that applies throughout the country with no territorial exception — so, unlike several older central laws, this Act was never carved out for Jammu and Kashmir.

• (b)whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir — This is the standard 'except J&K' formula found in many older central Acts, but it does not apply here — the PCR Act, 1955 extends to the whole of India, J&K included.
• (c)Union Territories — The Act is not confined to Union Territories; it operates across all States and UTs, i.e. the whole of India.
• (d)only the State of Jammu and Kashmir — The reverse of the truth — the Act is nationwide, not limited to a single State.

'Extent' is the territorial reach of a statute, stated in its Section 1. The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 extends to the whole of India because it enforces Article 17, under which untouchability is abolished everywhere in the country. That makes the 'except Jammu and Kashmir' qualifier — common in pre-2019 central legislation — inapplicable here.

MPPSC often tests the extent clause of important social-justice laws. The tempting wrong answer is 'except J&K', because candidates over-generalise from other central Acts that did carve out J&K. The reasoning anchor is that untouchability abolition is a fundamental right (Article 17) with no state exception, so the enforcing statute covers the whole of India.

• Section 1(2): the Act extends to the whole of India
• It enforces Article 17 (abolition of untouchability), part of the Right to Equality
• Originally the Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955; renamed in 1976
• No 'except Jammu and Kashmir' exception applies to this Act

• Reflexively choosing 'whole of India except Jammu and Kashmir'
• Confusing 'extent' (territory) with 'commencement' (date the Act comes into force)

MPPSC/UPSC ask 'the Act extends to…' or 'which Article does it enforce'. Remember: PCR Act = whole of India, because untouchability is abolished nationwide under Article 17.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 was enacted primarily to give effect to which Article of the Constitution?

  • (a)Article 14
  • (b)Article 15
  • (c)Article 17
  • (d)Article 21

  Answer(c) Article 17 — abolition of untouchability.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  The territorial 'extent' of a central Act is normally stated in:

  • (a)the Preamble
  • (b)Section 1 of the Act
  • (c)the last section of the Act
  • (d)the rules made under the Act

  Answer(b) Section 1 (short title, extent and commencement).