Constitutional bench
Landmark cases
Landmark and recent judgments that expanded, limited, or explained the articles on this desk. Newer cases sit at the top. Open a case to jump to the related article.
Association for Democratic Reforms v. Union of India
2024 · Struck down electoral bonds as violating the voter’s right to information · Arts. 19
In Re: Article 370
2023 · Upheld abrogation of Article 370 and reorganisation of J&K · Arts. 370, 1
Janhit Abhiyan v. Union of India
2022 · Upheld the 103rd Amendment and economically weaker section reservation · Arts. 15, 16
Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Aadhaar)
2018 · Proportionality review of Aadhaar against privacy · Arts. 14, 21
Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India
2018 · Decriminalised consensual same-sex relations as a matter of equality and dignity · Arts. 14, 15, 21
Indian Young Lawyers Assn. v. State of Kerala
2018 · Exclusion of women from Sabarimala failed the test of equality and freedom of religion · Arts. 14, 15, 25
K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India
2017 · Privacy declared a fundamental right under Article 21 · Arts. 14, 19, 21
Shreya Singhal v. Union of India
2015 · Struck down Section 66A; speech cannot be chilled by vague bans · Arts. 19
Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Assn. (NJAC)
2015 · Struck down the NJAC; judicial independence includes how judges are appointed · Arts. 124
Selvi v. State of Karnataka
2010 · Involuntary narco-analysis and polygraph tests violate the right against self-incrimination · Arts. 20, 21
I.R. Coelho v. State of Tamil Nadu
2007 · Laws placed in the Ninth Schedule after 24 April 1973 remain open to basic structure review · Arts. 13, 368
Rameshwar Prasad v. Union of India
2006 · Dissolution of a newly elected Assembly under Article 356 is open to judicial review · Arts. 356
L. Chandra Kumar v. Union of India
1997 · High Court power under Article 226 is part of the basic structure and cannot be ousted · Arts. 32, 226
D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal
1997 · Laid down arrest and custody safeguards to protect life and personal liberty · Arts. 21, 22
S.R. Bommai v. Union of India
1994 · President’s Rule is justiciable; majority is tested on the House floor, not in Raj Bhavan · Arts. 356
Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Assn. (Second Judges)
1993 · The Chief Justice-led collegium has primacy in appointments to the higher judiciary · Arts. 124
Indra Sawhney v. Union of India
1992 · Reservations and the 50 percent ceiling under equality · Arts. 14, 16
D.C. Wadhwa v. State of Bihar
1987 · Repromulgation of ordinances is a fraud on the Constitution · Arts. 123
Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corporation
1985 · Right to livelihood recognised as part of Article 21 · Arts. 21
Mohd. Ahmed Khan v. Shah Bano Begum
1985 · Upheld maintenance for a divorced Muslim woman; the sequel shaped the uniform civil code debate · Arts. 44
Ajay Hasia v. Khalid Mujib Sehravardi
1981 · Bodies that are instrumentalities of the State are “the State” under Article 12 · Arts. 12
Fertilizer Corporation Kamgar Union v. Union of India
1981 · Article 32 is the guaranteed right to a constitutional remedy — the heart and soul of the Constitution · Arts. 32
Minerva Mills v. Union of India
1980 · Limited amending power is itself basic structure; Parts III and IV must stay in harmony · Arts. 32, 38, 39, 368
Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India
1978 · Procedure under Article 21 must be fair, just and reasonable · Arts. 14, 19, 21
Mohinder Singh Gill v. Chief Election Commissioner
1978 · Election Commission powers are wide, but they remain subject to the Constitution · Arts. 324
E.P. Royappa v. State of Tamil Nadu
1974 · Equality is a dynamic concept; arbitrariness violates Article 14 · Arts. 14
Samsher Singh v. State of Punjab
1974 · The President and Governors act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers · Arts. 74, 75
Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala
1973 · Parliament may amend the Constitution but cannot destroy its basic structure · Arts. 13, 368
I.C. Golaknath v. State of Punjab
1967 · Held that Parliament cannot abridge fundamental rights by amendment — later qualified · Arts. 13, 368
Shirur Mutt
1954 · Essential religious practices of a denomination are protected under Articles 25 and 26 · Arts. 25, 26
State of Madras v. Champakam Dorairajan
1951 · Struck down caste-based admissions; led to the First Amendment and Article 15(4) · Arts. 15, 29
Romesh Thappar v. State of Madras
1950 · Freedom of the press as a facet of speech under Article 19 · Arts. 19