Landmark Judgements Under Major Topics in Law

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering landmark Supreme Court of India judgements and their legal significance from the JobSecura LLB Entrance Examination Guide.

Golak Nath v. State of Punjab

Fundamental Rights cannot be amended by Amendment passed by Parliament.

Keshavananda Bharti V State of Kerala

Established the Basic structure doctrine, which states that Parliament can amend any part of the Constitution but not the Basic Structure.

ADM Jabalpur V S. Shukla

Held that the right to approach court under article $14$, $21$ and $22$ would be suspended during emergency; notable for the dissent by Justice HR Khanna and later overruled by the KS Puttaswami Case.

Menaka Gandhi v. Union of India

Established that the right to go abroad is a fundamental right under article $21$ and that the mere existence of law is not enough—it must be fair, just, and reasonable.

Minerva Mills Case

Strengthened the basic structure doctrine and made it clear that the Constitution is Supreme, not the parliament.

Vishaka V. State of Rajasthan

Addressed sexual harassment at the workplace and provided Supreme Court guidelines.

Lilly Thomas v. Union of India

Ruled that the second marriage of a Hindu man without divorcing the first wife is void, even if the man converted to Islam.

Aruna shaun bagh Case

Supreme Court held individuals have the right to die with dignity and allowed passive euthanasia with specific guidelines.

S.P Gupta V Union of India

Focused on the independence of the judiciary and the appointment of judges.

Bachan Singh V State of Punjab

Established that the death sentence should be given only in $\text{Rarest of rare cases}$.

Machhi Singh v. State of Punjab

Reiterated the decision made in the Bachan Singh case regarding death sentences.

Mohd Ahmed Khan V Shah Bano Begum

Landmark judgement regarding the Uniform Civil Code.

Indra Sawhney V Union of India

Ruled that reservation shall not exceed $50\%$.

Gian Kaur V. State of Punjab

Held that the Right to life does not include the Right to die.

DK Basu V. State of West Bengal

Case concerning custodial death.

PUCL V. Union of India

Ruled that Article $19(1)(a)$ includes the right to hold telephonic conversations.

PA Inamdar V. State of Maharashtra

Ruled that the right to impart education is a fundamental right under article $19(1)(g)$.

IR Coelho V. State of Tamil Nadu

Affirmed the power of the court for judicial review even for laws inserted in the $9^{th}$ schedule.

Gita Hariharan v. RBI

Recognized a mother's right to be a natural guardian regardless of whether the father is alive.

Indian Young Lawyers Association V. State of Kerala

Addressed the entry of women at the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabrimala (Kerala).

Navtej Singh Johar & Ors V. Union of India

Declared Section $377$ IPC as unconstitutional.

Justice K.S. Puttuswamy (Rtd) & Ors V Union of India & Ors

Held that the Aadhar act is valid and does not violate Article $14, 19, 21$ or infringe on privacy.

Joseph Shine V Union of India

Declared section $497$ IPC (adultery) as unconstitutional.

Common Cause Registered Society V Union of India

Sanctioned Passive Euthanasia and implied that the right to die with dignity is a fundamental right.

Jarnail Singh V Lacchmi Narain Gupta & Ors

Applied the creamy layer principle to SC/ST for reservations in promotions and held collection of quantifiable data to show backwardness is not allowed.

Swapnil Tripathi V. Supreme court of India

Allowed the Live Streaming of Supreme Court proceedings.

Tehseen S Poonawala V. Union of India & Ors

Ruled that Lynching and Mobocracy are to be punishable.

Arjun Gopal & Ors V. Union of India

Regulated the sale of firecrackers and banned online sales.

Jacob Puliyel V. Union of India

Recognized the right to refuse vaccination as a Fundamental right.

Budhadev Karmaskar V. State of West Bengal & Ors

Recognized sex work as a profession and held practitioners are entitled to dignity and equal protection under the law.

Aishat Shifa V. State of Karnataka & Ors

A split judgment where Justice Hemant Gupta upheld the prohibition of Hijab in educational institutions, while Justice Dhulia held the decision to wear a Hijab is an individual choice.

State of Jharkhand v. Shailendra Kumar Rai

Supreme court reiterated the ban on two finger tests.

X v. Principal Secretary Govt of NCT Delhi

Held that unmarried women are entitled to seek abortion of pregnancy within $20-24$ weeks arising from a consensual relationship.

Janhit abhiyan V.Union of India

Upheld the $103^{rd}$ Constitutional amendment introducing $10\%$ reservation for Economically weaker sections in Education and employment.

Shayara Bano v. Union of India

The Triple Talaq Case which declared triple talaq unconstitutional.

Vivek Narayan Sharma V. Union of India

The Supreme Court upheld the decision mentioned.