Which case struck down Clause(4) of Article 329-A inserted by the 39th...
Indira Nehru Gandhi v. Raj Narain case:
In the case of Indira Nehru Gandhi v. Raj Narain, the Supreme Court of India struck down Clause (4) of Article 329-A inserted by the 39th Amendment in 1975. The court held that this clause was beyond the Parliament's amending power as it destroyed the Constitution's basic features.
Background:
The case originated from the election petition filed by Raj Narain against the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, challenging her election to the Lok Sabha in 1971. The Allahabad High Court found her guilty of corrupt practices and declared her election void. However, she continued to hold the position as the Prime Minister by invoking Article 329-A inserted by the 39th Amendment, which provided certain immunities to elected representatives.
Key Points:
The Supreme Court's decision in this case had several significant implications:
1. Doctrine of Basic Structure: The court, in its landmark judgment, established the doctrine of basic structure, holding that there are certain essential features of the Constitution that cannot be amended by the Parliament. These features form the basic structure and include principles such as democracy, secularism, federalism, and the rule of law.
2. Validity of 39th Amendment: The Supreme Court declared Clause (4) of Article 329-A inserted by the 39th Amendment as unconstitutional. This clause aimed to nullify the court's judgment in the election petition against Indira Gandhi and protect her from disqualification. The court held that this amendment violated the basic structure of the Constitution.
3. Limitation on Parliament's Amending Power: The judgment in this case imposed limitations on the amending power of the Parliament. It clarified that while Parliament has the authority to amend the Constitution, this power is not absolute. Amendments that destroy or damage the basic structure of the Constitution will be deemed unconstitutional.
Conclusion:
The Indira Nehru Gandhi v. Raj Narain case was a landmark judgment that established the doctrine of basic structure and limited the Parliament's amending power. By striking down Clause (4) of Article 329-A inserted by the 39th Amendment, the Supreme Court reaffirmed the supremacy of the Constitution and protected its essential features from arbitrary changes. This case has had a lasting impact on the interpretation of the Constitution and the scope of the Parliament's authority to amend it.
Which case struck down Clause(4) of Article 329-A inserted by the 39th...
In the Indira Nehru Gandhi v. Raj Narain case, the Supreme Court applied the theory of basic structure and struck down Clause(4) of Article 329-A, which was inserted by the 39th Amendment in 1975 on the grounds that it was beyond the Parliament's amending power as it destroyed the Constitution's basic features.
To make sure you are not studying endlessly, EduRev has designed UPSC study material, with Structured Courses, Videos, & Test Series. Plus get personalized analysis, doubt solving and improvement plans to achieve a great score in UPSC.