Article 47 and the State's Public Health Duty

Article 47 is a Directive Principle of State Policy that makes improvement of public health a primary duty of the State. It specifically requires the State to endeavour to prohibit the consumption of intoxicating drinks and drugs that are injurious to health, except when used for medicinal purposes.

Scope of the duty

The provision treats harmful intoxication as part of the State's broader responsibility for nutrition, living standards and public health.

• The State must endeavour to secure prohibition of consumption, rather than merely discourage harmful use.
• The duty covers intoxicating drinks and drugs that are injurious to health.
• Consumption for medicinal purposes is expressly excluded from the prohibition objective.
• The Article states a policy goal but does not itself create a criminal offence or prescribe enforcement machinery.

Constitutional character and implementation

As a Directive Principle, Article 47 guides legislation and public policy rather than conferring an individually enforceable right.

• Under Article 37, Directive Principles are not enforceable by courts, but they are fundamental in the governance of the country.
• The State has a constitutional duty to apply these principles while making laws and policies.
• Article 47 supports public-health measures against harmful drug consumption, while specific regulatory and penal powers must come from legislation.