Final answer:
The right being violated is the Right to Equality and potentially the freedom of religion, both of which are protected under Articles 15 and 25-28 of the Indian Constitution. Such practices are unconstitutional as they promote discrimination and undermine personal liberty and dignity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The fundamental right being violated in the case described is the Right to Equality, specifically the prohibition against discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth (Article 15). Additionally, it may also infringe upon the right to freedom of religion under Articles 25-28, which include the freedom to profess, practice, and propagate one's religion and the freedom to manage religious affairs.
Every citizen in India is guaranteed these rights by the Constitution, making such forced rituals as washing the feet of the priest and then bathing in that water a violation. This not only infringes upon one's personal liberty and dignity but also perpetuates caste-based discrimination, which is explicitly forbidden by the Constitution. Practices requiring subordination or imposing purity rituals are seen as remnants of historical social practices that aimed to undermine certain groups and maintain social hierarchies.
The student, in this case, Rathnam, has the right to refuse such rituals without facing any coercion or discrimination. The Indian legal system provides mechanisms for individuals to challenge such violations through the judiciary. It is crucial that societal attitudes also align with constitutional mandates to eradicate such practices and uphold the principles of equality and human dignity.