Landmark Supreme Court Cases
Constitution Special · सुप्रीम कोर्ट के ऐतिहासिक फैसले
📋Quick Overview
The Supreme Court of India has delivered several landmark judgments that have shaped constitutional law. The most important is the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973) which established the Basic Structure Doctrine — Parliament cannot amend the Constitution in a way that destroys its basic structure. Other landmark cases have expanded the scope of Fundamental Rights (especially Art 21), defined federalism, and protected democracy from abuse of power.
Kesavananda Bharati (1973) is the most important case in Indian Constitutional history — it was decided by a 13-judge bench (largest ever) with a 7:6 majority. It established that even Parliament cannot destroy the 'basic structure' of the Constitution.
📖Landmark Cases — Detailed Table
| Case Name | Year | Key Ruling/Significance |
|---|---|---|
| A.K. Gopalan vs State of Madras | 1950 | Early interpretation: Right to Life (Art 21) narrow — 'procedure established by law' = any law passed by Legislature |
| Shankari Prasad vs Union of India | 1951 | Parliament CAN amend Fundamental Rights under Art 368 (upheld 1st Amendment) |
| Golak Nath vs State of Punjab | 1967 | Parliament CANNOT amend FRs (overruled by 24th Amendment 1971); 11-judge bench |
| Kesavananda Bharati vs State of Kerala | 1973 | Basic Structure Doctrine: Parliament can amend Constitution but cannot destroy its basic structure (sovereignty, democracy, federalism, secular character, fundamental rights) |
| Maneka Gandhi vs Union of India | 1978 | Art 21 expanded: 'Procedure established by law' must be fair, just and reasonable (not arbitrary); interconnected rights |
| Minerva Mills vs Union of India | 1980 | Reaffirmed Basic Structure; declared Art 31C (as amended by 42nd Amendment) invalid; balance between FRs and DPSPs is basic structure |
| Indra Sawhney vs Union of India (Mandal Case) | 1992 | OBC reservation 27% upheld; total reservation cap 50%; 'creamy layer' of OBCs excluded; no reservation in promotions |
| Vishaka vs State of Rajasthan | 1997 | Guidelines against sexual harassment at workplace issued; led to POSH Act 2013; employer's duty to prevent harassment |
| S.R. Bommai vs Union of India | 1994 | President's Rule (Art 356) is subject to judicial review; SC can examine imposition of President's Rule; federalism is basic structure |
| Kihoto Hollohan vs Zachillhu (Defection Case) | 1992 | 10th Schedule (Anti-Defection Law) upheld; Speaker's decision subject to judicial review |
| Aruna Shanbaug Case (Passive Euthanasia) | 2011 | SC allowed passive euthanasia (withdrawal of life support) with safeguards; active euthanasia still illegal |
| Justice K.S. Puttaswamy vs Union of India (Privacy Case) | 2017 | Right to Privacy is a Fundamental Right under Art 21; 9-judge bench unanimous decision |
| Navtej Singh Johar vs Union of India | 2018 | Section 377 IPC decriminalised — consensual same-sex relations between adults not a crime |
📝Elements of Basic Structure (Kesavananda Bharati)
- •Supremacy of the Constitution
- •Republican and democratic form of Government
- •Secular character of the Constitution
- •Separation of powers between legislature, executive and judiciary
- •Federal character of the Constitution
- •Unity and integrity of the nation
- •Welfare state (socio-economic justice)
- •Judicial review
- •Independence of judiciary
- •Fundamental Rights (Art 12–35)