State Of Punjab & Ors vs Ram Lubhaya Bagga Etc. Etc on 26 February, 1998 under Article 21 and under Article 47 of the Constitution. The obligation includes improvement of public health as its primary duty. Learned counsel for the appellant on the other hand does not deny such a right but urges that the same can be placed within permissible limits by rules and policies laid down. The right claimed may be sacrosanct, which has to be given, but the same can be put within reasonable limits, under a policy which is framed after taking into consideration various factors. Thus the only question is, whether the new policy is arbitrary, unreasonable violative of any law or principle to be struck down. Of corse it has to stand to the test of reasonableness and not to erode or curtail any of the Constitutional or Statutory right of any employee, If not, the claim cannot go beyond the policy. Shri Rajeev Dhawan, learned senior counsel appearing for the appellants submits with force that it would be no violation, if medical facility in absolute term as desired is not provided because of any financial constraints viz. lack of financial resources or for such other reasons. No right under the Constitution is absolute in term. It has to be balanced with the need, equity and the resources available. In Vincent Panikurlangara vs. Union of India: (1987 ) 2 SCC 165; "Para 16 - In a series of pronouncement during the recent years this court has called out from the provisions of part IV of the Constitution these several obligations of the State and Called upon it to effectuate them in order that the resultant pictured by the Constitution Fathers may become a reality. As pointed out by us, maintenance and improvement of public health have to rank high as these are indispensable to the very physical betterment of these depends the building of the society of which the Constitution makers envisages. Attending to public health, in our opinion, therefore, is of high priority - perhaps the one at the top." " The expression 'life' assured in Article 21 does not connote mere animal existence or continued drudgery through life. It has a much wider meaning which includes right to livelihood, better standard of living, hygienic conditions in the work place and leisure facilities and opportunities to eliminate sickness and physical disability of the workmen. Health of the workman enables him to enjoy the fruits of his labour, to keep him physically fit and human right to protect his health. In that case health insurance, while in service or after retirement was held to be a fundamental right and even private industries are enjoined to provide health insurance to the workmen." In Kirloskar Brothers Ltd. vs. Employees State Insurance corporation, 1996 (2) SCC 682; "Para 9 - The Constitution envisages the establishment of a welfare State at the federal level as well as at the State level. In a welfare State the primary duty of the Government is to secure the welfare of the people. Providing adequate medical facilities for the people is an essential part of the obligations under taken by the Government in the welfare State. The Government discharges this obligation by running hospitals and health centers which provide medical care to the person seeking to avail of those facilities. Article 21 imposes an obligation on the State to Indian Kanoon - http://indiankanoon.org/doc/1563564/ 3