2016-06-15 Wed

‘to no one will we sell, to no one deny or delay right or justice’.

Magna Carta also known as the Magna Carta Libertatum or the Great Charter of Liberties was sealed on 15th June, 801 years ago. It was the first document which challenged the authority of the King and subjected him to the rule of law, protecting the people from the feudal abuse and guaranteed the rights of individuals, the right to justice and the right to a fair trial.

The charter was agreed by King John of England at Runnymede, near Windsor and was considered as a peace treaty between the King and his barons. The Magna Carta established for the first time the principle that everybody, including the king, was subject to the law. Magna Carta marks a clear stage in the collapse of English feudalism.

The whole document is written in Latin, and the original Magna Carta had 63 clauses. Though most of the clauses dealt with some grievances, this charter held within itself some fundamental values that both challenged the autocracy of the king and proved highly useful later in writing of the constitutions of many countries.

Some of Magna Carta’s core principles are reflected in the United States Bill of Rights (1791) and in many other constitutional documents around the world, as well as in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and the European Convention on Human Rights (1950).

The framers of the Indian Constitution provided for fundamental rights modelled on the Bill of Rights, which draws heavily from the Magna Carta. The Part III of our Constitution which enshrines the Fundamental Rights (Article 21-25) is called the Magna Carta of India. Article 21 of our Indian Constitution provides that “no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law”.

Today Magna Carta is considered as the first step towards establishing a parliamentary democracy. Over the 800 years, the ideals enshrined in the Magna Carta gathered importance and has created a stronghold in respects of liberty and justice. Magna Carta has been the most valuable contribution of Great Britain to the rest of the world.

This milestone in the ensuring liberty and justice has been honoured on a set of six stamps with different denominations issued by Royal Mail on the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta in 2015. Also, a bi-metal (gold and silver) commemorative 2-pound coin was issued in 2015.

US Post in 1965 released a 5 cents stamp commemorating this Liberator of liberties!