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Article 13 - Are Constitutional Amendments Laws? The Basic Structure Doctrine

Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973) 4 SCC 225

ISSUE:

Whether the 24th Constitutional (Amendment), Act 1971 is Constitutionally valid or not?

Whether the 25th Constitutional (Amendment), Act 1972 is Constitutionally valid or not?

The extent to which the Parliament can exercise its power to amend the Constitution?

RULE:

The Parliament has an unlimited power to amend the Constitution subject to the sole condition that such amendments must not change the basic structure of the Constitution.

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Article 13 - Waiver of Fundamental Rights

Basheshar Nath v. CIT AIR 1959 SC 149

ISSUE:

Whether the settlement made under section 8A of the Taxation on Income (Investigation Commission) Act, 1947is valid?

Can a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution be waived?

Under section 5(1) of the Investigation Act which has already been held unconstitutional then the settlement under section 8A could not be enforced, for the foundation of the proceedings under section 8A was the reference under section 5(1) and the very foundation for the report of the Investigation Commission has disappeared and settlement can neither be valid, nor it can be enforced?

RULE:

Waiver of a right means relinquishment of that right by the individual. A Constitution Bench of five judges of the Supreme Court in Basheshar Nath v. Commissioner of Income Tax, Delhi and Rajasthan, AIR 1959 SC 149 held that Fundamental Rights cannot be waived.

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Article 13 - Future Laws

State of Gujarat v. Shri Ambika Mills (1974) 4 SCC 656

ISSUE:

Whether the first respondent was competent to challenge the validity of the impugned provisions on the basis that they violated the fundamental right under Article 19(1) (f) of citizen-employers or employees and thus show that the law was void and non-existent and, therefore, the action taken against it was bad?

Whether the definition of ‘establishment’ in Section 2(4) violated the fundamental right of the respondent under Article 14 and the impugned provisions were void for that reason?

Whether, on that assumption, the first respondent could claim that the law was void as against the non-citizen employers or employees under Article 13(2) and further contend that the non-citizen employers have been deprived of their property without the authority of law, as, ex hypothesi a void law is a nullity.

RULE:

Indians were guaranteed fundamental rights by the Constitution of India but there was a question on whether the non-citizens are entitled to enjoy these rights. The Hon’ble Supreme Court held that the non-citizens are not having the fundamental rights and therefore they are not allowed to take advantage of the voidness of the law which is inconsistent with Part III of the Constitution. Therefore, the Apex Court again confirmed that the existing laws are applicable to non-citizens and no law can be held void in rem or for all purposes.

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Article 13 - The Rule of Eclipse:

Bhikaji Narain Dhakras v. State of M.P. AIR 1955 SC 781

ISSUE:

Whether the C.P and Berar Amendment Act, 1947 which amends the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939 is constitutionally valid?

Whether the impugned Act is violative of Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India?

Whether the impugned Act is violative of Article 31 of Constitution of India?

Whether Article 13 of the Constitution of India allows the judicial review of pre-existing laws?

Whether the reasonable restrictions under Article 19(6) include prohibition and monopoly by state?

Whether the First and Fourth Constitutional Amendment Acts have retrospective effects?

RULE:

The Doctrine of the Eclipse was introduced and established in India with the help of this case. Under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939, a state government is given the power to control the road transport and in pursuance of it in the state of Madhya Pradesh, the C.P and Berar and Motor Vehicles Act was enacted. This case had questioned the constitutional validity of the C.P. and Berar Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 1947 (Act III of 1948) and upheld the impugned Act to be valid.

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Article 13 - The Rule of Severability

State of Bombay v. F.N. Balsara AIR 1951 SC 318

ISSUE:

Whether there are sufficient grounds for declaring the whole Act to be invalid?

Whether the judgement of the Bombay High Court be upheld with regard to the specific provisions of the Act?

RULE:

The case applied the doctrine of pith and substance which helps to concern the true character and nature of legislation. The petitioner pleaded that the Bombay Prohibition Act was violative of Article 19(1)(g) of the Indian Constitution. Thus, it must be declared void.

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Article 13 - Retrospective Effect

Keshava Madhav Menon v. State of Bombay AIR 1951 SC 128

ISSUE:

Whether Section 15(1) and 18(1) read with definitions contained in Section 2(6) and 2(10) of Indian Press (Emergency Powers) Act, 1931 were inconsistent with Article 19(1)(a) read with Article 19(2)?

Even if it is inconsistent with the proceedings commenced under Section 18(1) before commencement of Constitution be proceeded with?

RULE:

Article 13 of the Indian Constitution describes the means for judicial review. It enjoins a duty on the Indian State to respect and implement the fundamental right. And at the same time, it confers a power on the courts to declare a law or an act void if it infringes the fundamental rights.

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Article 12 (State and other authorities)

Electricity Board, Rajasthan v. Mohan Lal AIR 1967 SC 1857

ISSUE:

Whether the concerned authority fell within the meaning of a “state” under article 12 of the constitution?

RULE:

The term 'authorities' occurring in Art. 12 could only mean a person or a group of persons who exercise the legislative or executive functions of a State or through whom or through the instrumentality of whom the State exercises its legislative or executive power."

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Article 12 (State and other authorities)

Sukhdev v. Bhagatram AIR 1975 SC 1331

ISSUE:

Whether the Oil and Natural Gas Commission, the Industrial Finance Corporation, and the Life Insurance Corporation established under statutes of Parliament are authorities under Article 12 of the Constitution?

RULE:

Bodies like LIC and ONGC were created by statutes and had the statutory power to make binding rules and regulations, and were under the pervasive control of the Government. In light of these facts, and the combination of State aid and furnishing of an important public service by these corporations, made these corporations to be State under Art 12.

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Article 12 (State and other authorities)

R.D. Shetty v. Airport Authority AIR 1979 SC 1628

ISSUE:

What is the meaning of “Registered 2nd Class Hoteliers”? What category of persons fall within the meaning of this description?

Whether the acceptance of tender of the 4th respondent by the 1st respondent was invalid and liable to be set aside at the instance of the appellant?

RULE:

Article 12 of the Constitution of India - ‘State’.

Article 14 of the Constitution of India - ‘equality before the law’.

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Article 12 (State and other authorities)

Ajay Hasia v. Khalid Mujib AIR 1981 SC 487

ISSUE:

Whether the Regional Engineering College was within the ambit of ‘state’ as defined by Article 12 of the Constitution

Whether the admission process alleged here violated the right to equality enshrined under Article 14 of the Constitution?

RULE:

Article 14 of the Constitution of India.

Article 12 of the Constitution

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