LANDMARK JUDGMENTS THAT CHANGED INDIA

ABOUT THIS BOOK

The executive, the legislature and the judiciary are the three branches of government, both state
and central, in India. Of these, it is the judiciary’s task to uphold constitutional values and ensure
justice for all. The interpretation and application of constitutional values by the judicial system
has had far-reaching impact, often even altering provisions of the Constitution itself. Although
our legal system was originally based on the broad principles of the English common law, over
the years it has been adapted to Indian traditions and been changed, for the better, by certain
landmark verdicts.
In Landmark Judgments that Changed India, former Supreme Court judge and eminent jurist Asok
Kumar Ganguly analyses certain cases that led to the formation of new laws and changes to the
legal system. Discussed in this book are judgments in cases such as Kesavananda Bharati v. State
of Kerala that curtailed the power of Parliament to amend the Constitution; Maneka Gandhi v.
Union of India and Others that defined personal liberty; and Golaknath v. State of Punjab, where
it was ruled that amendments which infringe upon fundamental rights cannot be passed.
Of special significance for law students and practitioners, this book is also an ideal guide for
anyone interested in the changes made to Indian laws down the years, and the evolution of the
judicial system to what it is today.