1973
Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala
Established the Basic Structure doctrine - Parliament cannot amend the Constitution to destroy its essential features.
Constitutional Law
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Landmark Judgments
Cases That Shaped Indian Law
Supreme Court decisions every compliance professional and citizen should know - explained in plain English.
1978
Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India
Expanded Article 21 to include the right to live with dignity; any procedure affecting personal liberty must be fair, just, and reasonable.
Fundamental Rights
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1985
Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corporation
Held that the right to livelihood is part of the right to life under Article 21 - pavement dwellers cannot be evicted arbitrarily.
Fundamental Rights
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1985
M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (Oleum Gas Leak)
Introduced the rule of Absolute Liability - enterprises in hazardous activities are absolutely liable for harm, with no exceptions.
Environmental Law
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1997
Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan
Laid down the Vishaka Guidelines against workplace sexual harassment - the foundation of the POSH Act, 2013.
Labour Law
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1997
D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal
Laid down binding safeguards on arrest and detention to prevent custodial torture and deaths.
Criminal Law
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2014
NALSA v. Union of India
Recognised transgender persons as a third gender with full fundamental rights and directed affirmative action.
Fundamental Rights
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2015
Shreya Singhal v. Union of India
Struck down Section 66A of the IT Act as unconstitutional - a landmark victory for online free speech.
Digital Rights
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2017
Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India
Declared the Right to Privacy a fundamental right under Article 21 - the foundation of India's data protection law.
Privacy & Data
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