Year 2026
Constitution of India
Part III — Fundamental Rights
Article26
Article 26 — Freedom to manage religious affairs
Subject to public order, morality and health, every religious denomination or any section thereof shall have the right— (a) to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes; (b) to manage its own affairs in matters of religion; (c) to own and acquire movable and immovable property; and (d) to administer such property in accordance with law.
In plain language
A religious denomination can run its own institutions and manage its own religious affairs, again within public order, morality, and health.
Landmark cases
- Shirur Mutt (1954) — Essential religious practices of a denomination are protected under Articles 25 and 26
Current official-edition wording. Historical reconstruction is not claimed for this article.
Exam preparation
Medium
Editorial signal
Case law
1
Linked judgments
Linked topics
1
Articles + cases