MP JUDICIARY Constitutional Law Syllabus

MP JUDICIARY Constitutional Law: topic-wise syllabus

1. 1

   Preamble, Nature of Constitution, and Basic Structure Doctrine

   • Preamble: Objectives — Justice, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity; Amendment via Kesavananda Bharati
   • Nature: Federal with Unitary Bias, Quasi-Federal (K C Wheare, Granville Austin)
   • Constituent Assembly: Drafting, Debates, Adoption
   • Basic Structure Doctrine: Kesavananda Bharati v State of Kerala (1973)
   • Key Cases: Indira Nehru Gandhi v Raj Narain (1975), Minerva Mills v Union of India (1980), SR Bommai v Union of India (1994), I R Coelho v State of TN (2007)
2. 2

   Citizenship and Fundamental Rights (Articles 5-35)

   • Citizenship (Articles 5-11): Commencement, 1955/1986 Acts, Overseas, NRC, CAA
   • Right to Equality (Articles 14-18): Reasonable Classification, Equal Protection, Abolition of Untouchability/Titles
   • Right to Freedom (Articles 19-22): Six Freedoms, Reasonable Restrictions, Article 21: Right to Life & Liberty — Expanded Meaning, Article 21A: Right to Education
   • Protection Against Arrest and Detention (Article 22), Preventive Detention Laws
   • Right Against Exploitation (Articles 23-24): Trafficking, Forced Labour, Child Labour
   • Right to Freedom of Religion (Articles 25-28): Secularism, Religious Denominations
   • Cultural and Educational Rights (Articles 29-30): Minorities, Language, Administer Institutions
   • Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32): Writs — Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition, Certiorari, Quo Warranto
   • Case Law: ADM Jabalpur v Shivkant Shukla (1976 — 44th Amendment); Maneka Gandhi v Union of India (Article 21 Golden Triangle); Kesavananda Bharati (Article 368)
3. 3

   Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties (Articles 36-51A)

   • DPSP (Articles 36-51): Non-justiciable but Fundamental in Governance, Socialist, Gandhian, Liberal Principles
   • Relationship Between FR and DPSP: Champakam Dorairajan (FR Prevail), Golaknath, Kesavananda, Minerva Mills (Harmony)
   • Implementation: Land Reforms, Panchayati Raj, Legal Aid, Environmental Protection
   • Fundamental Duties (Article 51A): Added by 42nd Amendment 1976, 11 Duties, Enforceable via Statutes
   • Case Law: Unni Krishnan v State of AP (Right to Education); M C Mehta v Union of India (Environment)
4. 4

   Union Executive and Parliament (Articles 52-122)

   • President (Articles 52-62): Election, Powers, Impeachment, Ordinance Power (Article 123), Pardoning Power (Article 72)
   • Vice President: Election, Functions, Rajya Sabha Chairperson
   • Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (Articles 74-78): Appointment, Collective Responsibility, Individual Responsibility
   • Parliament (Articles 79-122): Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha — Composition, Sessions, Privileges
   • Legislative Procedure: Ordinary, Money (Article 109-110), Financial Bills, Budget
   • Speaker: Powers, Pro tem Speaker, Deputy Speaker
   • Anti-defection Law (10th Schedule): Kihoto Hollohan v Zachillhu
5. 5

   State Executive, Legislature, and Union Territories (Articles 153-241)

   • Governor (Articles 153-162): Appointment, Powers, Discretionary Powers, Ordinance (Article 213)
   • Chief Minister, State Council of Ministers (Articles 163-167)
   • State Legislature (Articles 168-212): Vidhan Sabha, Vidhan Parishad, Legislative Procedure
   • Creation of New States (Article 3), Union Territories (Articles 239-241)
   • Case Law: SR Bommai v Union of India (Governor's Discretion); Nabam Rebia v Deputy Speaker (Constitutional Crisis)
6. 6

   Supreme Court, High Courts, and Subordinate Courts (Articles 124-147, 214-237)

   • Supreme Court (Articles 124-147): Composition, Appointment, Jurisdiction — Original, Appellate (Article 132-136), Special Leave (Article 136), Advisory (Article 143), Contempt (Article 129)
   • High Courts (Articles 214-231): Appointment of Judges, Transfer, Powers — Writ Jurisdiction (Article 226), Superintendence (Article 227)
   • Independence of Judiciary: Collegium System (NJAC struck down — SCARA v Union of India, 2015), Transfer of Judges
   • Subordinate Courts (Articles 233-237): Appointment, Control, Judicial Service
7. 7

   Centre-State Relations, Emergency, and Amendment (Articles 245-368)

   • Legislative Relations (Articles 245-255): Union List, State List, Concurrent List, Residuary Powers
   • Administrative Relations (Articles 256-263): Centre's Direction to States, Inter-State Councils
   • Financial Relations (Articles 264-293): Taxes, Grants-in-Aid, Finance Commission
   • Emergency Provisions (Articles 352-360): National (Article 352), State/President's Rule (Article 356), Financial (Article 360)
   • Amendment of Constitution (Article 368): Special Majority, State Ratification, Basic Structure Limit
   • Case Law: State of West Bengal v Union of India (Centre-State); S R Bommai (Article 356); M Nagaraj v Union of India (Amendment)