50th anniversary of Kesavananda Bharati verdict: SC dedicates web page
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday dedicated to people, including researchers, a web page containing details of the arguments, written submissions and judgment in the historic Kesavananda Bharati case that laid down the path-breaking concept of the "basic structure" of the Constitution.
Monday marked the 50th anniversary of the Kesavananda Bharati verdict.
"We have dedicated a web page with all written submissions and everything related to the Kesavananda case for all world researchers to look at. The judgment was delivered on the same day 50 years ago on April 24, 1973," a bench headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud said.
The lawyers present in the courtroom hailed the move, saying it will help law researchers, students and advocates immensely.
In a historic verdict of a 13-judge bench, the top court, by a 7:6 majority, had laid down the concept of "basic structure" of the Constitution and consequently, restricted the amending power of Parliament, holding that it cannot touch upon the Constitution's basic structure.
The milestone judgment interpreted the notion that every bit of the Constitution is amendable by Parliament. It rather propounded the concept of the basic structure and said aspects such as democracy, judicial independence, separation of power and secularism are part of the basic structure of the Constitution and hence, those cannot be amended by Parliament.
