Supreme Court judgments

Recent Landmark Judgments

1. Kesavananda Bharati Case (1973): Established the Basic Structure Doctrine, preventing Parliament from altering the Constitution’s fundamental framework.
2. Right to Privacy (Puttaswamy Case, 2017): Declared privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21.
3. Triple Talaq Case (Shayara Bano, 2017): Declared instant triple talaq unconstitutional, leading to legislative reforms.
4. Section 377 Case (Navtej Johar, 2018): Decriminalized consensual homosexual acts between adults.
5. Sabarimala Case (2018): Allowed the entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple, citing gender equality.

Judgments on Governance

1. State of Rajasthan v. Union of India (1977): Defined the role of the Governor during a political crisis.
2. Arunachal Pradesh Case (2016): Reiterated the necessity of following constitutional procedures for dismissing a government under Article 356.
3. Shreya Singhal v. Union of India (2015): Struck down Section 66A of the IT Act as unconstitutional, emphasizing freedom of speech.
4. Adhaar Case (2018): Upheld the constitutional validity of Aadhaar while restricting its mandatory usage to certain services.

Judgments on Environmental Issues

1. M.C. Mehta Cases: Multiple rulings on environmental protection, including the Taj Trapezium Zone and vehicular pollution control.
2. National Green Tribunal Act Case: Affirmed the Tribunal's powers in environmental governance.
3. Sterlite Industries Case (2019): Ordered closure of the Sterlite copper plant to protect environmental health.

Judgments on Social Justice

1. Vineeta Sharma v. Rakesh Sharma (2020): Recognized daughters as equal heirs under the Hindu Succession Act, 1956.
2. Indra Sawhney Case (1992): Provided clarity on reservations, introducing the concept of the creamy layer in OBC reservations.
3. EWS Reservation Case (2022): Upheld the 103rd Amendment, granting 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections.
4. Judgment on Marital Rape (2022): Recognized marital rape as a valid ground for divorce under personal laws.

Judgments on Electoral Reforms

1. People’s Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India (2003): Introduced the concept of the NOTA option in voting.
2. Lily Thomas Case (2013): Struck down provisions allowing convicted legislators to remain in office.
3. Voter ID and Aadhaar Link Case (2021): Highlighted concerns of privacy and potential exclusion in linking Aadhaar with voter IDs.

Judgments on Women's Rights

1. Vishaka Guidelines (1997): Established guidelines to prevent sexual harassment in workplaces.
2. Joseph Shine Case (2018): Struck down Section 497 of IPC, decriminalizing adultery.
3. Hadiya Case (2017): Reaffirmed the right to marry as an aspect of personal liberty.

Significance of These Judgments

1. Strengthened the values of justice, liberty, and equality.
2. Reiterated the independence of the judiciary in protecting constitutional principles.
3. Addressed critical societal and governance issues effectively.
4. Provided clarity and direction on the implementation of laws and policies.
5. Ensured the protection of fundamental rights and promoted accountability in governance.