The basic structure doctrine is an Indian judicial principle that holds that the Constitution of India has certain basic features, such as fundamental rights, that cannot be altered through constitutional amendments by Parliament. While Parliament has broad powers to amend the Constitution, it does not have the power to destroy or undermine the basic elements or fundamental features of the Constitution. The Supreme Court has the ability to review amendments and strike down those that conflict with or alter this "basic structure" of the Constitution. Key cases that developed and established this doctrine include Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala and judgments relating to the 39th Amendment passed during the Emergency period.
The basic structure doctrine is an Indian judicial principle that holds that the Constitution of India has certain basic features, such as fundamental rights, that cannot be altered through constitutional amendments by Parliament. While Parliament has broad powers to amend the Constitution, it does not have the power to destroy or undermine the basic elements or fundamental features of the Constitution. The Supreme Court has the ability to review amendments and strike down those that conflict with or alter this "basic structure" of the Constitution. Key cases that developed and established this doctrine include Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala and judgments relating to the 39th Amendment passed during the Emergency period.
The basic structure doctrine is an Indian judicial principle that holds that the Constitution of India has certain basic features, such as fundamental rights, that cannot be altered through constitutional amendments by Parliament. While Parliament has broad powers to amend the Constitution, it does not have the power to destroy or undermine the basic elements or fundamental features of the Constitution. The Supreme Court has the ability to review amendments and strike down those that conflict with or alter this "basic structure" of the Constitution. Key cases that developed and established this doctrine include Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala and judgments relating to the 39th Amendment passed during the Emergency period.
The basic structure doctrine is an Indian judicial principle that holds that the Constitution of India has certain basic features, such as fundamental rights, that cannot be altered through constitutional amendments by Parliament. While Parliament has broad powers to amend the Constitution, it does not have the power to destroy or undermine the basic elements or fundamental features of the Constitution. The Supreme Court has the ability to review amendments and strike down those that conflict with or alter this "basic structure" of the Constitution. Key cases that developed and established this doctrine include Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala and judgments relating to the 39th Amendment passed during the Emergency period.
Open court is normal court where proceedings of the court are
conducted. To the extent practical, every person is allowed to watch the proceedings of the court. The concept of hearing in an open court is practiced because it brings transparency in administration of justice. The parties get to know what is happening and inculcate discipline and caution in the minds of all those involved in administering justice.
But there are instances where it is not practical to accommodate persons
other than parties to the proceedings. Therefore, such proceedings are held in camera. This means that the proceedings are held in a closed room where the public will not have access to watch the proceedings. Matrimonial disputes are one example.
In criminal cases like rape, it is necessary to protect the identity and
modesty of the victim. These cases are held in camera. All the persons, including the advocates practicing in that court and the litigants are asked to vacate the court room. Only the accused, the rape victim, counsels for prosecution and defence and the witnesses (at the time when they are giving witness) are allowed to be present in the in-camera proceedings.
COURT COURT CONCEPT
the term "closed court" is used to refer to a court proceeding
where members of the public are restricted from access to the court room proceedings due to the nature and sensitivity of the case.In criminal matters, usually juvenile cases are held in closed court unless the minor is charged with specific violent crimes or asks the court to open the proceedings.In civil matters,most family law proceedings and mental competency hearings are delt with in closed court.
Dissenting opinion
A dissenting opinion (or dissent) is an opinion in
a legal case in certain legal systems written by one or more judges expressing disagreement with the majority opinion of the court which gives rise to its judgment. When not necessarily referring to a legal decision, this can also be referred to as a minority report.[1][2]
Dissenting opinions are normally written at the same time
as the majority opinion and any concurring opinions, and are also delivered and published at the same time. A dissenting opinion does not create binding precedent nor does it become a part of case law. However, they can sometimes be cited as a form of persuasive authority in subsequent cases when arguing that the court's holding should be limited or overturned. In some cases, a previous dissent is used to spur a change in the law, and a later case may result in a majority opinion adopting a particular understanding of the law formerly advocated in dissent. As with concurring opinions, the difference in opinion between dissents and majority opinions can often illuminate the precise holding of the majority opinion.
The dissent may disagree with the majority for any
number of reasons: a different interpretation of the existing case law, the application of different principles, or a different interpretation of the facts. Many legal systems do not provide for a dissenting opinion and provide the decision without any information regarding the discussion between judges or its outcome.
Basic structure doctrine
The basic structure doctrine is an Indian judicial principle
that the Constitution of India has certain basic features that cannot be altered or destroyed through amendments by the parliament.[1] Key among these "basic features", as expounded by its most prominent proponent Justice Hans Raj Khanna, are the fundamental rights granted to individuals by the constitution.[1][2][3] The doctrine thus forms the basis of a limited power of the Supreme Court to review and strike down constitutional amendments enacted by the Parliament which conflict with or seek to alter this "basic structure" of the Constitution. The basic structure doctrine applies only to constitutional amendments. The basic features of the Constitution have not been explicitly defined by the Judiciary, and the claim of any particular feature of the Constitution to be a "basic" feature is determined by the Court in each case that comes before it. The basic structure doctrine does not apply to ordinary Acts of Parliament, which must itself be in conformity with the Constitution. The Supreme Court's initial position on constitutional amendments was that any part of the Constitution was amendable and that the Parliament might, by passing a Constitution Amendment Act in compliance with the requirements of article 368, amend any provision of the Constitution, including the Fundamental Rights and article 368. The "basic features" principle was first expounded in 1964, by Justice J.R. Mudholkar in his dissent, in the case of Sajjan Singh v. State of Rajasthan. He wrote, It is also a matter for consideration whether making a change in a basic feature of the Constitution can be regarded merely as an amendment or would it be, in effect, rewriting a part of the Constitution; and if the latter, would it be within the purview of Article 368? In 1967, the Supreme Court reversed its earlier decisions in Golaknath v. State of Punjab. It held that Fundamental Rights included in Part III of the Constitution are given a "transcendental position" and are beyond the reach of Parliament. It also declared any amendment that "takes away or abridges" a Fundamental Right conferred by Part III as unconstitutional. By 1973, the basic structure doctrine triumphed in Justice Hans Raj Khanna's judgment in the landmark decision of Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala.[4] Previously, the Supreme Court had held that the power of Parliament to amend the Constitution was unfettered.[1] However, in this landmark ruling, the Court adjudicated that while Parliament has "wide" powers, it did not have the power to destroy or emasculate the basic elements or fundamental features of the constitution.[5] Although Kesavananda was decided by a narrow margin of 7-6, the basic structure doctrine has since gained widespread acceptance and legitimacy due to subsequent cases and judgments. Primary among these was the imposition of a state of emergency by Indira Gandhi in 1975, and her subsequent attempt to suppress her prosecution through the 39th Amendment. When the Kesavananda case was decided, the underlying apprehension of the majority bench that elected representatives could not be trusted to act responsibly was perceived as unprecedented. However, the passage of the 39th Amendment by the Indian National Congress' majority in central and state legislatures, proved that in fact such apprehension was well-founded. In Indira Nehru Gandhi v. Raj Narain and Minerva Mills v. Union of India, Constitution Benches of the Supreme Court used the basic structure doctrine to strike down the 39th Amendment and parts of the 42nd Amendment respectively, and paved the way for restoration of Indian democracy.[3] The Supreme Court's position on constitutional amendments laid out in its judgements is that Parliament can amend the Constitution but cannot destroy its "basic structure".