Q120 · UPPSC Prelims 2020 · Set A · General Studies

← Q119 Q121 →

The Supreme Court of India enunciated the doctrine of "Basic Structure of the Constitution" in

A The Golaknath Case in 1967
B The Keshavanand Bharati Case in 1973
C The Shankari Prasad Case in 1951
D The Sajjan Singh Case in 1965

Correct answer: (b) The Keshavanand Bharati Case in 1973

Explanation

  1. A

    The Golaknath Case in 1967

    Golaknath (1967) held that Parliament could not amend Fundamental Rights (prospective overruling). It did not propound the basic-structure doctrine.

  2. B

    The Keshavanand Bharati Case in 1973

    Kesavananda Bharati (1973) held that Parliament’s amending power cannot destroy the Constitution’s basic structure. That is the official key.

  3. C

    The Shankari Prasad Case in 1951

    Shankari Prasad (1951) upheld the First Amendment and treated amendment as not ‘law’ under Article 13.

  4. D

    The Sajjan Singh Case in 1965

    Sajjan Singh (1965) followed Shankari Prasad on Parliament’s wide amending power.

Summary. Official key is (b) Kesavananda Bharati, 1973. Golaknath froze amendments to rights; Kesavananda replaced that with basic structure. Minerva Mills (1980) reaffirmed it. Honour the stored letter (b).