Schedule IV of the Constitution of India contains the Forms of Oath or Affirmations. These forms are used by various persons who hold public office in India, such as the President, the Vice President, the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India, and members of Parliament and State Legislatures.
The forms of oath or affirmation in Schedule IV are divided into two categories:
- Oath of office: This is the oath that is taken by persons who are appointed to a public office. It includes an oath of allegiance to the Constitution of India and a promise to uphold the Constitution and the laws of India.
- Oath of secrecy: This is the oath that is taken by persons who are entrusted with confidential information. It includes a promise to keep the information confidential and not to disclose it to anyone else.
The forms of oath or affirmation in Schedule IV are not compulsory. A person who is appointed to a public office may choose to take an oath or affirmation in any other form that is not inconsistent with the Constitution. However, most persons who are appointed to public office choose to take the oath or affirmation in the form that is set out in Schedule IV.
The forms of oath or affirmation in Schedule IV are important because they serve as a reminder to the persons who take them of their responsibilities to the Constitution and the people of India. By taking these oaths or affirmations, the persons who hold public office are committing themselves to upholding the Constitution and the laws of India, and to serving the people of India faithfully and honestly.
In addition to the forms of oath or affirmation in Schedule IV, there are also a number of other forms of oath or affirmation that are used in India. These forms are used by persons who are appointed to religious offices, to military offices, and to other positions that require a pledge of allegiance or a promise of secrecy.
The forms of oath or affirmation that are used in India are an important part of the Indian legal system. They help to ensure that the persons who hold public office are committed to upholding the Constitution and the laws of India, and that they are willing to serve the people of India faithfully and honestly.