---
title: "Olga Tellis Case (1985): Right to Livelihood"
description: "Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corporation (1985) affirmed that the right to livelihood is essential to the right to life, impacting urban policy and rights."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/olga-tellis-case-1985"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- Olga Tellis v.
- Bombay Municipal Corporation (1985) is the Indian Supreme Court judgment holding that the right to livelihood is an integral component of the right to life under Article 21.
- What is the core constitutional holding in Olga Tellis?
- If the Court recognised a right to livelihood, why did the pavement dwellers still face eviction?
- How does Olga Tellis differ from the right-to-shelter cases?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

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Example

In July 1985, India's Supreme Court in Olga Tellis ruled that Bombay's pavement dwellers could not be evicted under the BMC Act without a fair hearing, while affirming the right to livelihood under Article 21.

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