| The guiding principle of the article is that all persons and things similarly circumstances shall be treated alike both in respect of priviledges conferred and liabilities imposed. In fact public welfare requires that persons, property and occupations be classified and be subjected to different and appropriate legislation. Government is not a simple exercise. It encounts and must deal with the problems which come from persons in an infinite variety of relations. The Supreme Court has stated that the equal protection of laws guaranteed by Article 14 of the constitution does not mean that all the laws must be general in character and universal in application and that the state is no longer to have the power of distinguishing and classifying person or things for the purpose of legislation. Equality before the law means that amongst equals the law should be equal and should be equally administered and that like should be treated alike. |