Acknowledgement …………………………………….... v
Introduction ……………………...... xiii
1. Making of the Constituent Assembly: The Idea, the Persons and the Process …………………… 1
2. Charting the Course and the Objectives Resolution ………… 53
3. The Theory and Practice of Equality: Fundamental Rights and the Minorities ……………… 95
4. The Preliminary Drafts of the Constitution ………………… 145
5. The Draft Constitution in the Constituent Assembly ……… 198
6. The Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951: Justice—Social, Economic and Political …..... 281
7. Parliamentary versus Judicial Supremacy: The Basic Structure Doctrine and Article 368 ……… 325
8. The Constitution Rewritten: The Constitution(Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976 ………… 418
9. The Constitution Restored: The Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1979 …………….. 453
10. The Judiciary and Economic Justice: From Shankari Prasad Deo to Kesavananda Bharati and Beyond ……... 505
11. The Right to Life and Liberty: A. K. Gopalan to Maneka Gandhi and After …………… 575
12. The Idea of Social Justice: Champakam Dorairajan to Indra Sawhney …………………….... 637
13. Federalism in the Constitution: From State of Rajasthan and Others (1977) to S.R. Bommai and Others (1994) ….............. 693
14. The ADM Jabalpur Moment: The Writ of Habeas corpus ….............. 737
Conclusion …………………………………….……………………... 789
References ……………………….…………………………………… 803

Constitution of India: 75 Years of World's Largest Democracy offers an insightful exploration of India's constitutional journey, from its drafting by the Constituent Assembly to its evolution over the past 75 years. This book delves into the debates that shaped the idea of justice, rooted in the country's struggle for independence, and critically assesses key amendments that have either strengthened or undermined its spirit. Through landmark Supreme Court rulings and significant constitutional changes, it traces India's progress towards achieving social, economic and political justice, weaving a compelling narrative of the challenges and triumphs of the world's largest democracy.

English