The Supreme Court of India has delivered many landmark judgments that shaped Indian law, Constitution, democracy, and society. Here’s a list of famous Supreme Court judgments with short notes:

The Supreme Court of India has delivered many landmark judgments that shaped Indian law, Constitution, democracy, and society. Here’s a list of famous Supreme Court judgments with short notes:

📌 Constitutional & Fundamental Rights

1. Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973)

Introduced the Basic Structure Doctrine – Parliament cannot alter the “basic structure” of the Constitution.

2. Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978)

Expanded Article 21 (Right to Life and Liberty) – procedure must be “fair, just and reasonable.”

3. Indira Nehru Gandhi v. Raj Narain (1975)

Struck down part of 39th Amendment; reinforced free & fair elections as part of basic structure.

4. Minerva Mills v. Union of India (1980)

Reaffirmed basic structure; struck down provisions giving unlimited power to Parliament to amend Constitution.

5. SR Bommai v. Union of India (1994)

Set limits on President’s Rule under Article 356; judicial review allowed.

📌 Social Justice & Equality

6. Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan (1997)

Laid down guidelines against sexual harassment at workplace (Vishaka Guidelines).

7. Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India (2018)

Decriminalized homosexuality; struck down Section 377 IPC (to that extent).

8. Indian Young Lawyers Association v. State of Kerala (2018) – Sabarimala Case

Allowed entry of women of menstruating age into Sabarimala Temple.

9. Joseph Shine v. Union of India (2018)

Struck down Section 497 IPC (Adultery law) as unconstitutional.

📌 Liberty & Privacy

10. Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017)

Declared Right to Privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21.

11. ADM Jabalpur v. Shivkant Shukla (1976) – Habeas Corpus Case

Held that fundamental rights can be suspended during Emergency.

(Later criticized and effectively overruled).

📌 Economic & Governance

12. MC Mehta Cases (1986 onwards)

Series of judgments on environmental protection – Ganga pollution, Oleum Gas Leak, vehicular pollution in Delhi, etc.

13. C.B. Muthamma v. Union of India (1979)

Landmark in gender equality in government services.

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📌 Recent Judgments

14. Ayodhya Case – M. Siddiq (D) v. Mahant Suresh Das (2019)

5-judge bench awarded the disputed land for Ram Mandir, alternative land for mosque.

15. Shayara Bano v. Union of India (2017)

Declared Triple Talaq (instant divorce) unconstitutional.