MAINS 2016
GS2
12.5 marks
What was held in the Coelho case? In this context, can you say that judicial review is of key importance amongst the basic features of the Constitution?
WRITE IN
9 min
200 words
What the examiner wants
State the holding of I.R. Coelho (2007) and argue whether judicial review is central among basic features.
What... Can you sayAnswer exactly what the question asks.
Demand-wise check
- 1Coelho holding: laws placed in the Ninth Schedule after 24 April 1973 are open to review if they damage the basic structure, including rights in Articles 14, 19, 21≈35 words
- 2Background: Article 31B and First Amendment; Kesavananda date as cut-off≈35 words
- 3Judicial review as key: guards all other basic features; Minerva Mills, L. Chandra Kumar, NJAC case≈35 words
- 4Balance: judicial restraint and parliamentary sovereignty concerns≈35 words
Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.
Answer plan
Ninth Schedule backgroundCoelho holdingWhy judicial review is the keystone (cases)Caution on overreachConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Getting the cut-off date wrong or omitting it
- Not answering the second part with reasons
Draw this
- Timeline: 1951 Art 31B → 1973 Kesavananda → 1980 Minerva → 2007 Coelho
Value addition
- CaseI.R. Coelho v State of Tamil Nadu (2007, nine judges): post-24 April 1973 Ninth Schedule laws are subject to the basic structure test.Supreme Court, 2007
- CaseL. Chandra Kumar (1997): judicial review under Articles 32 and 226 is part of the basic structure.Supreme Court, 1997
- CaseSupreme Court Advocates-on-Record Assn (2015) struck down the 99th Amendment (NJAC) to protect judicial independence.Supreme Court, 2015
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 26 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
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