What is Doctrine of Basic Structure of the Constitution?
- It is fairly well-known that parliamentary legislation is subject to two limitations under the Constitution of India.
Limitations of parliamentary legislation
- Article 13: Under it, laws inconsistent with or in derogation of fundamental rights are void.
- ‘Basic structure’ doctrine: No amendment to the Constitution should have the effect of destroying any of its basic features
Criticism of ‘Basic structure’ doctrine
- Usurped parliamentary sovereignty: It goes against the democratic imperative that the elected legislature should reign supreme.
Case in favour of ‘Basic structure’ doctrine
- On Parliamentary sovereignty : Parliament is sovereign in its domain, but it is still bound by the limitations imposed by the Constitution.
- Helped save the Constitution: It protected Constitution from being undermined through the misuse of parliamentary majority.
- Ensuring some fundamental features of Constitution are not legislated out of existence: Parliamentary majority is transient but essential features of Constitution ought to be perennially protected from legislative excess.
Conclusion
- It may be open to a new Constituent Assembly to come up with another constitution that changes these fundamental concepts, but a legislature formed under the current Constitution cannot be allowed to change its core identity.