Under which of the following Articles of the Constitution of India is the provision that no person shall be prosecuted and punished for the same offence more than once laid down?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 4 i.e. Article 20.
The provision that no person shall be prosecuted and punished for the same offence more than once is laid down under Article 20(2) of the Constitution of India. This is known as the protection against double jeopardy. It means that if a person has already been tried and either convicted or acquitted for a particular offence, they cannot be prosecuted again for the same offence. This safeguard upholds the principle of fairness in criminal justice and protects individuals from repeated harassment by the legal system. However, it applies only when the person has already been prosecuted in a court of law. Departmental inquiries or civil proceedings do not fall under its ambit. This right is part of the fundamental rights under Part III of the Constitution.