Question

In which case did the Supreme Court propound the doctrine of 'Basic Structure'?

• A. Keshavananda Bharati case
• B. Golaknath case
• C. Maneka Gandhi case
• D. None of these

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The "Basic Structure" doctrine says that Parliament can amend the Constitution under Article 368, but it cannot change or destroy the Constitution's basic structure, meaning its core features like democracy, federalism, and the rule of law.

Step 2: The case that created it.
This doctrine came from the Kesavananda Bharati vs State of Kerala case, decided in 1973 by a 13-judge bench of the Supreme Court, the largest bench in Indian judicial history.

Step 3: Why the other options are wrong.
The Golaknath case (1967) had earlier ruled that Parliament could not amend Fundamental Rights at all, a stricter and different position that Kesavananda Bharati later replaced with the more balanced Basic Structure test. The Maneka Gandhi case (1978) is about the right to personal liberty under Article 21, not constitutional amendments.

Final Answer:
The Basic Structure doctrine was laid down in the Keshavananda Bharati case. This corresponds to option (A).