Article 31 of the Indian Constitution originally guaranteed the right to property as a fundamental right, prohibiting state deprivation of property without legal authority and compensation. Due to conflicts with land reforms, it was repealed by the 44th Amendment in 1978 and replaced with Article 300A, making it a legal right.

Key aspects of the transformation of Article 31:

Original Status: Part of Fundamental Rights (Part III).

Article 31(1): Stated that no person shall be deprived of his property save by authority of law.

Article 31(2): Required the state to provide compensation if acquiring private property for public purposes.

Repeal: The 44th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1978, abolished the right to property as a fundamental right.

Current Status (Article 300A): Property is now a legal/constitutional right, meaning it cannot be taken except through lawful authority, but it cannot be directly enforced by the Supreme Court under Article 32.