How did Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala limit Parliament’s power to amend India’s Constitution?

In the landmark 1973 case Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala, the Supreme Court of India limited Parliament’s power to amend the Constitution of India by establishing the basic structure doctrine.1

This doctrine identifies certain core features of the Constitution—such as the supremacy of the Constitution, the rule of law, the separation of powers, judicial review, secularism, and the ideals expressed in the Preamble—as fundamental to the nation's democratic framework. The court held that while Parliament possesses the authority to amend the Constitution under Article 368, it does not have the power to abrogate, alter, or erase this basic structure.213

Consequently, the Supreme Court reserves the right to strike down any constitutional amendment that it determines violates these fundamental principles. This ruling serves as a critical check on legislative power, ensuring that the essential character of the Constitution remains protected against radical or undemocratic changes.21