{"id":75670,"date":"2025-11-30T10:55:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-30T05:25:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=75670"},"modified":"2025-12-01T13:34:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T08:04:09","slug":"constitutional-legacy-of-the-basic-structure-doctrine-and-the-call-for-indianising-jurisprudence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/constitutional-legacy-of-the-basic-structure-doctrine-and-the-call-for-indianising-jurisprudence\/","title":{"rendered":"Constitutional Legacy of the Basic Structure Doctrine and the Call for Indianising Jurisprudence"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Basic Structure Doctrine Latest News<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the inauguration of the International Mooting Academy at O.P. Jindal University, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, along with other Supreme Court judges, reflected on the <\/span><b>constitutional legacy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He highlighted the 1973 Kesavananda Bharati judgment, the centrality of the Basic Structure Doctrine, and the evolving idea of \u2018Indianisation\u2019 of the legal system.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Significance of Kesavananda Bharati Judgment<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Basic Structure doctrine: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is a legal principle, established by the SC in the landmark 1973 case of Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala, that states the fundamental features of the Constitution <\/span><b>cannot be amended <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">by Parliament.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Basic Structure as constitutional conscience:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CJI described the Basic Structure Doctrine as \u201cthe conscience that keeps our democracy from drifting into absolutism.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The doctrine is not a mere precedent but a <\/span><b>foundational affirmation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of constitutionalism and rule of law.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>An act of constitutional archaeology:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The CJI said the doctrine was not \u201cjudicial fancy\u201d but an uncovering of principles embedded within the Constitution.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Judges \u201cunearthed\u201d its inherent moral core: liberty, equality, fraternity, human dignity.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>The living constitution:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Constitution&#8217;s strength lies not in rigidity but its ability to adapt without losing moral compass.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each generation must interpret it as a \u201c<\/span><b>living charge<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d, not a frozen document.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Judicial Perspectives on Basic Structure<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Judicial independence and rule of law (Justice B.V. Nagarathna):<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The doctrine flows from judicial independence, immune from political pressure.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It resulted in the protection of the <\/span><b>core features<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (supremacy of Constitution, separation of powers, fundamental rights, judicial review) of the Constitution.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Constitutional supremacy (Justice P.S. Narasimha)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Basic Structure is not judicial supremacy but affirmation of constitutional supremacy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Natural rights foundation (Justice M.M. Sundresh)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Basic Structure was never defined because it existed as a natural right embedded in justice, liberty, and equality.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Kesavananda as a Moral Milestone (CJI)<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Resilience of Indian democracy:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The judgment proved that a young republic could assert a <\/span><b>moral conscience <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">comparable to older democracies.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It showcased India\u2019s constitutional culture that bends without breaking.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Symbolism &#8211; The constitutional khaat:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The constitution is like a khaat (text = frame; institutions = legs).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Restraint, balance, moral discipline are interlaced ropes that hold everything together.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Indianisation of the Legal System<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Swadeshi jurisprudence:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The SC noted that despite influences from UK and US, Indian interpretation has developed a distinct \u2018swadeshi\u2019 colour.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The government also endorsed building a unique Indian jurisprudence.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Earlier calls for indianisation:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Justice P.N. Bhagwati (1986)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: India must not rely on \u201ccrutches of foreign legal order\u201d.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Justice N.V. Ramana<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Indianisation needed for easy access to justice, especially for rural litigants.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Justice S.A. Bobde<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Indian texts already reflected concepts such as privacy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Cases citing Indian tradition<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Decriminalising adultery and <\/span><b>Sabarimala <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">temple entry to women of a certain age quoted heavily from the Manusmriti.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Decolonising Indian legal thought:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Justice S. Abdul Nazeer criticized over-reliance on colonial jurisprudence and urged recognition of ancient Indian legal thinkers: Manu, Kautilya, Yajnavalkya, Brihaspati, Narada, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Technological Modernisation of Justice System<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>PM (Narendra Modi)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Called for \u201c<\/span><b>ease of justice<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d even for the poorest. Highlighted virtual hearings, translated judgments for greater accessibility.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Union Law Minister (Arjun Ram Meghwal)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Judicial competence now requires e-courts, <\/span><b>AI-enabled systems<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Invoked B.R. Ambedkar\u2019s warning: \u201cFreedom is not a licence to do whatever we want.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Key Challenges<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Balancing amendability with constitutional stability<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Reconciling Parliament\u2019s power to amend with preservation of Basic Structure.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Avoiding judicial overreach vs. ensuring constitutional supremacy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Maintaining legitimacy of judicial review without perceptions of activism.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Indianisation vs. universal constitutional values<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Integrating indigenous traditions while upholding modern democratic principles.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Bridging the accessibility gap<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Ensuring that technology-driven reforms reach rural and marginalised populations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Way Forward<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Strengthening constitutional culture:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Promote civics education and constitutional awareness at all levels.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Continued modernisation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Expand e-courts, digital filing, translation tools, and AI-based case management.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Developing native jurisprudence:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Encourage academic engagement with ancient Indian legal principles while retaining universal constitutional ethics.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Preserving institutional independence<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Protect judiciary from political interference to uphold rule of law.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Harmonising tradition with modernity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Draw from Indian intellectual heritage without compromising rights-based democratic framework.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>enduring centrality<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the Basic Structure Doctrine is not merely as a judicial creation but as the moral anchor of Indian democracy.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Kesavananda Bharati judgment remains <\/span><b>a guiding force<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as India navigates modernisation, institutional reforms and debates on Indianising its legal system.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The call is for a justice system that is technologically advanced, socially accessible, constitutionally rooted, and culturally resonant, ensuring that the Republic continues to uphold liberty, equality, fraternity, and human dignity.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Source:<\/b> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/legal-news\/basic-structure-doctrine-democracy-drifting-absolutism-cji-10393419\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">IE |<\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/constitution-is-evolving-to-swadeshi-says-presidential-reference-bench\/article70339291.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">TH<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Chief Justice of India (CJI) highlighted the centrality of the Basic Structure Doctrine, and the evolving idea of \u2018Indianisation\u2019 of the legal system.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":75908,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[3955,60,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-75670","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-basic-structure-doctrine","9":"tag-mains-articles","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75670","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=75670"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75670\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/75908"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=75670"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=75670"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=75670"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}