Previous Year Question
Consider the following and arrange these in chronological order:
I. Golak Nath Case
II. Keshawanand Bharti Case
III. 24th Constitution Amendment Act
IV. 42nd Constitution Amendment Act
Select the correct answer from the codes given below.
Codes:
I, III, II, IV
I, II, III, IV
III, I, II, IV
III, I, IV, II
Correct Answer: A
Detailed Solution
I. Golak Nath Case — 1967: I.C. Golak Nath v. State of Punjab was decided in 1967 by an 11-Judge Bench. By a 6:5 majority, the Supreme Court placed an important limitation on Parliament's power to amend Fundamental Rights.
III. 24th Constitutional Amendment Act — 1971: Following the Golak Nath judgment, Parliament enacted the Constitution (Twenty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1971. It amended Articles 13 and 368, expressly clarifying Parliament's Constituent Power to amend provisions of the Constitution. The Act received assent on 5 November 1971.
II. Kesavananda Bharati Case — 1973: Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala was decided on 24 April 1973 by a 13-Judge Bench. The Court recognised Parliament's broad amending power but held that the Basic Structure of the Constitution cannot be destroyed.
IV. 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act — 1976: The Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976 came later. Enacted on 18 December 1976, it made extensive constitutional changes, including changes to the Preamble involving Socialist, Secular and the “unity and integrity of the Nation.”