In which of the following cases the Supreme Court, while laying out the ‘basic structure’ of the Constitution held that the democratic character of the polity was an essential component of the ‘basic structure’?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is option 2 i.e. Kesavananda Bharati vs State of Kerala.
The Supreme Court laid out the 'basic structure' doctrine of the Constitution in the landmark case Kesavananda Bharati vs State of Kerala (1973). In this case, the Court held that the democratic character of the polity is an essential component of the 'basic structure' of the Indian Constitution. This doctrine means that while the Constitution can be amended, its basic structure, which includes democracy, secularism, and the rule of law, cannot be altered by any amendment.