What is the Doctrine of Proportionality in Constitutional Law?

The Doctrine of Proportionality is a constitutional principle used by courts to assess whether restrictions imposed by the State on fundamental rights are reasonable and justified.

Under this doctrine, any State action limiting a fundamental right must pursue a legitimate aim, must be suitable to achieve that aim, must be necessary, and must strike a fair balance between individual rights and public interest.

The Supreme Court has applied the doctrine while interpreting Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution.

In cases such as Modern Dental College v. State of Madhya Pradesh and K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India, the Court used proportionality to protect individual liberties against disproportionate State interference, making it a key safeguard in Indian constitutional law.