CASE LAWS
Landmark Case Laws
1. Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973) 4 SCC 225
Brief: Challenged the extent of Parliament’s power to amend the Constitution.
Legal Principle: Basic Structure Doctrine — Parliament cannot amend the basic structure of the Constitution.
2. Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978) 1 SCC 248
Brief: Passport of Maneka Gandhi was impounded without giving reasons.
Legal Principle: Expanded the meaning of “personal liberty” under Article 21. Procedure must be fair, just and reasonable.
3. Minerva Mills v. Union of India (1980) 3 SCC 625
Brief: Challenged constitutional amendments that gave unlimited power to Parliament.
Legal Principle: Reinforced Basic Structure Doctrine. Harmony between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles is part of basic structure.
4. Indira Nehru Gandhi v. Raj Narain (1975) Supp SCC 1
Brief: Related to the election of the then Prime Minister.
Legal Principle: Free and fair elections are part of the Basic Structure of the Constitution.
5. S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994) 3 SCC 1
Brief: Regarding misuse of Article 356 (President’s Rule).
Legal Principle: Secularism is a basic feature. President’s Rule is subject to judicial review.
6. Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan (1997) 6 SCC 241
Brief: Case of sexual harassment at workplace.
Legal Principle: Laid down Vishaka Guidelines for prevention of sexual harassment at workplace (later led to POSH Act).
7. Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017) 10 SCC 1
Brief: Challenge to Aadhaar and right to privacy.
Legal Principle: Right to Privacy is a Fundamental Right under Article 21.
8. Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India (2018) 10 SCC 1
Brief: Challenge to Section 377 IPC.
Legal Principle: Decriminalised consensual homosexual acts between adults. Right to dignity and equality.
9. Shayara Bano v. Union of India (2017) 9 SCC 1
Brief: Challenge to Triple Talaq.
Legal Principle: Instant Triple Talaq (Talaq-e-Biddat) is unconstitutional.
10. Common Cause v. Union of India (2018) 5 SCC 1
Brief: Related to passive euthanasia and living will.
Legal Principle: Right to die with dignity is part of Article 21. Passive euthanasia permitted with guidelines.
11. Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corporation (1985) 3 SCC 545
Brief: Eviction of pavement dwellers.
Legal Principle: Right to livelihood is part of Right to Life under Article 21.
12. Hussainara Khatoon v. State of Bihar (1980) 1 SCC 81
Brief: Regarding undertrial prisoners.
Legal Principle: Right to Speedy Trial is a Fundamental Right under Article 21.
13. Mohd. Ahmed Khan v. Shah Bano Begum (1985) 2 SCC 556
Brief: Maintenance rights of a divorced Muslim woman.
Legal Principle: Section 125 CrPC applies to all citizens irrespective of religion.
14. Indra Sawhney v. Union of India (1992) Supp (3) SCC 217
Brief: Related to reservation for Other Backward Classes.
Legal Principle: 50% ceiling on reservation. Creamy layer concept introduced.
15. Lily Thomas v. Union of India (2000) 6 SCC 224
Brief: Regarding conversion and bigamy.
Legal Principle: A person cannot remarry by converting to another religion without dissolving the first marriage.
Important Case Laws (2025–2026)
1. Gayatri Balasamy v. M/s ISG Novasoft Technologies Limited (2025 INSC 605)
Brief: Constitution Bench examined the power of courts to modify arbitral awards under Sections 34 and 37 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
Held / Legal Principle: Courts have only a limited power to modify arbitral awards (for severable parts, clerical or typographical errors, certain post-award interest, or sparingly under Article 142).
2. In Re: Assent, Withholding or Reservation of Bills by the Governor and the President of India (2025 INSC 1333)
Brief: Presidential Reference clarifying the constitutional powers of the Governor and President under Articles 200 and 201 regarding State Bills.
Held / Legal Principle: Governor has only three options — assent, reserve for the President, or withhold assent and return the Bill to the Legislature. Indefinite withholding of assent is not permitted. Courts cannot impose fixed timelines or create “deemed assent”.
3. State of U.P. v. Ajmal Beg (2025 INSC 1435)
Brief: State appeals against acquittal in a dowry death case. Supreme Court restored the trial court’s conviction under Sections 304-B & 498-A IPC and Sections 3/4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.
Held / Legal Principle: Conviction restored. Issued nationwide directions for better implementation of anti-dowry laws. Eradication of dowry is a constitutional and social necessity.
4. State of Uttar Pradesh v. Jai Bir Singh (2026 INSC 897)
Brief: Nine-Judge Bench reconsidered the definition of “Industry” under Section 2(j) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.
Held / Legal Principle: The triple test laid down in Bangalore Water Supply (1978) will continue to govern all pending disputes under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The judgment does not affect the Industrial Relations Code, 2020.
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Sardari Lal v. Bishan Dass | LexVoiceIndia LexVoiceIndia Case Laws Series Supreme Court of India Mere Proof of Attestation Not Sufficient to Prove Will When Surrounded by Suspicious Circumstances Case Name Sardari Lal v. Bishan Dass & Ors. Citation 2026 INSC 669 Date 6 July 2026 Bench Justices Manoj Misra & K.V. Viswanathan Brief Facts…