Judgment Ready-Reckoner for UPSC CSE

Using Supreme Court Judgments to Write Better Answers

For a serious UPSC aspirant, the real problem today is not lack of information. The real challenge is using what you know to score marks in the exam. This Judgment Ready-Reckoner is made exactly for that purpose.

This is not a law article for casual reading, and it is not an academic textbook. It is a final-stage revision tool meant to help you enrich answers just before the exam.

Each Supreme Court judgment included here has a clear purpose. These cases help you:

1. add constitutional depth to answers

2. show judicial backing for your arguments

3. improve analysis instead of writing general opinions

If used properly, this compilation helps you:

1. strengthen GS-II polity answers with Supreme Court references

2. improve GS-IV ethics answers by linking values with the Constitution

3. enrich essays with legal reasoning instead of vague views

4. improve prelims accuracy by eliminating wrong options
   

   

Core idea of this reckoner

The idea is very simple.

Instead of long case summaries, the focus is on:

• what to quote

• where to quote

• why the case matters

Each judgment is reduced to:

• the main constitutional principle it settled

• its relevance to UPSC syllabus themes

• its direct use in answer writing

Used correctly, these cases change answers:

• from descriptive to analytical

• from generic to authoritative

• from average to above-average

This book should be read theme-wise, not case-wise.
Each page covers one major UPSC theme and answers one basic exam question.

PAGE 1

BASIC STRUCTURE & CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

UPSC question it answers:
Can Parliament change the Constitution completely?

Kesavananda Bharati (1973)

• Introduced the Basic Structure Doctrine

• Parliament can amend the Constitution, but cannot destroy its core features

• Key ideas: judicial review, federalism, secularism, rule of law

Golaknath (1967)

• Parliament cannot amend Fundamental Rights

• Important because it led to major constitutional amendments later

Minerva Mills (1980)

• Parliament’s amending power is limited

• Balance between Fundamental Rights and DPSPs is part of basic structure

Waman Rao (1981)

• Introduced the cut-off date for Ninth Schedule laws

• Laws before Kesavananda protected, later laws open to challenge

I.R. Coelho (2007)

• Closed all loopholes

• Every Ninth Schedule law must follow basic structure

Exam takeaway:
Parliament is powerful, but not supreme.
The Constitution is supreme.

PAGE 2

JUDICIAL REVIEW, TRIBUNALS & SEPARATION OF POWERS

UPSC question it answers:
Who is the final protector of the Constitution?

L. Chandra Kumar (1997)

• Judicial review by High Courts and Supreme Court is part of basic structure

• Tribunals can help courts, but cannot replace them

Sampath Kumar (1987)

• Initially supported tribunals

• Later refined to protect independence of judiciary

Rojer Mathew (2019)

• Struck down tribunal rules that weakened judicial independence

Ram Jawaya Kapur (1955)

• Separation of powers exists, but in a flexible and practical form

Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain (1975)

• Even Parliament and Emergency laws are subject to judicial review

Exam takeaway:
Judicial review is the safety mechanism of the Constitution.

PAGE 3

FEDERALISM & CENTRE–STATE RELATIONS

UPSC question it answers:
Can the Centre control States without limits?

S.R. Bommai (1994)

• President’s Rule is not absolute

• Floor test is compulsory

• Article 356 is subject to judicial review

State of Rajasthan v. Union of India (1977)

• Introduced constitutional morality in Centre–State relations

NCT of Delhi v. Union of India (2018)

• Elected government has primacy

• LG must usually follow aid and advice

• Exceptions: land, police, public order

Exam takeaway:
Indian federalism is real and strong, not just symbolic.

PAGE 4

GOVERNOR, SPEAKER & ANTI-DEFECTION

Very important for GS-II polity answers.

B.P. Singhal (2010)

• Governor cannot be removed arbitrarily

• Judicial review applies

Nabam Rebia (2016)

• Governor’s discretionary powers are limited

• Powers are constitutional, not personal

Kihoto Hollohan (1992)

• Anti-defection law upheld

• Speaker’s decisions can be reviewed by courts

Keisham Meghachandra Singh (2020)

• Disqualification cases cannot be delayed endlessly

Exam takeaway:
Constitutional authorities are neutral trustees, not political tools.

PAGE 5

ARTICLE 21: LIFE, LIBERTY & DIGNITY

Shows how Article 21 expanded over time.

A.K. Gopalan (1950)

• Narrow interpretation

• Any law-made procedure was valid

Maneka Gandhi (1978)

• Turning point

• Articles 14, 19, and 21 are connected

• Procedure must be fair, just, and reasonable

Kharak Singh

• Life means more than physical existence

Hussainara Khatoon

• Right to speedy trial recognised

Exam takeaway:
Article 21 is a dynamic and expanding right.

PAGE 6

PRIVACY, INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY

Very relevant for current GS-II answers.

Puttaswamy (2017)

• Right to privacy is a Fundamental Right

• Based on dignity, autonomy, and liberty

Anuradha Bhasin (2020)

• Internet access linked to free speech

• Indefinite internet shutdowns are unconstitutional

Faheema Shirin (Kerala HC)

• Internet access linked to education and privacy

Exam takeaway:
Digital rights are constitutional rights.

PAGE 7

FREEDOM OF SPEECH & PROTEST

Balances rights with public order.

Romesh Thapar (1950)

• Freedom of speech includes circulation of ideas

Kedar Nath Singh (1962)

• Sedition applies only to incitement to violence

Ramlila Maidan (2012)

• Right to peaceful protest is a Fundamental Right

Shaheen Bagh Case

• Public spaces cannot be occupied permanently

Exam takeaway:
Rights come with reasonable responsibility.

PAGE 8

GENDER JUSTICE & SOCIAL RIGHTS

Useful for GS-II, GS-IV, and essays.

Vishaka (1997)

• Sexual harassment violates dignity and equality

• Court framed guidelines due to lack of law

Navtej Singh Johar (2018)

• Homosexuality decriminalised

• Constitutional morality over social morality

Shayara Bano (2017)

• Instant triple talaq struck down

NALSA (2014)

• Transgender persons recognised as third gender

Exam takeaway:
The Constitution protects dignity, not majority opinions.

PAGE 9

RESERVATION & EQUALITY

Explains balance between equality and social justice.

Champakam Dorairajan (1951)

• Caste-based reservation struck down

• Led to First Constitutional Amendment

M.R. Balaji (1963)

• Introduced 50% reservation limit

Indra Sawhney (1992)

• Creamy layer concept

• No OBC reservation in promotion

M. Nagaraj (2006)

• Data required for SC/ST promotion

Exam takeaway:
Equality means fairness, not identical treatment.

PAGE 10

ELECTIONS, POLICE & ENVIRONMENT

High-scoring governance topics.

Association for Democratic Reforms (2002)

• Mandatory disclosure of candidate details

Lily Thomas (2013)

• Immediate disqualification of convicted MPs/MLAs

Prakash Singh (2006)

• Framework for police reforms and autonomy

M.C. Mehta Cases

• Right to clean environment under Article 21

• Polluter Pays and Precautionary Principles

Exam takeaway:
Good governance is a constitutional duty.

HOW TO USE THIS RECKONER EFFECTIVELY

This is a revision tool, not a reading book.

• Pages 1–4 → Core GS-II polity topics

• Pages 5–7 → Fundamental Rights, civil liberties, GS-IV ethics

• Pages 8–10 → Social justice, governance, environment

Use judgments selectively, not repeatedly.

Even one well-used Supreme Court case can:

• show constitutional understanding

• strengthen analysis

• make your answer stand out

This is not about memorising case names or years.
It is about knowing what principle the case settled and using it to support your answer.

Used this way, the reckoner helps convert knowledge into marks.