On 24 April 1973 a 13-judge bench ruled 7-6 that Parliament can amend any part of the Constitution, but not its basic structure.
The Supreme Court upheld the First Amendment: Parliament could amend Fundamental Rights.
The power was upheld again, but two judges asked whether it had any limit.
Eleven judges held Parliament could not abridge Fundamental Rights by amendment.
Kesavananda Bharati challenged Kerala's land-reform laws under Article 32.
Parliament restated its power to amend any provision, Fundamental Rights included.
Article 31C shielded social-policy laws. The 29th protected Kerala's land laws.
Six petitions, months of argument. Nani Palkhivala argued the power had limits.
Parliament can amend any part of the Constitution, but not its basic structure.
Who sat in the majority and who dissented.
Each amendment, and its fate.
A.N. Ray, from the minority, became Chief Justice over three majority judges.
No closed list: the courts built it.
The court struck down a clause putting the PM's election beyond challenge.
A 13-judge bench convened to reconsider Kesavananda was dissolved after two days.
Parliament cannot make its amending power unlimited. Limited power is itself basic.
Each ruling drew an amendment.
Ninth Schedule laws added after 24 April 1973 can be tested against the basic structure.
How 24 April 1973 became a cut-off.
The 99th Amendment fell for damaging the independence of the judiciary.
1975, 1980 and 2015.
Kesavananda Bharati died at 79. He lost his land dispute but named a doctrine.
Kesavananda has never been overruled. Every amendment still answers to it.
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