(file photo)

Mumbai:

Chief Justice of India D.Y.

Chandrachud on Saturday termed the principle of basic structure as a pole star, which guides when the path ahead is complicated and gives a definite direction to those who interpret and implement the Constitution.

Justice Chandrachud said that when the road ahead is complicated, the basic structure of the Indian Constitution provides guidance and a sure direction to its interpreters and implementers.

The Chief Justice's remarks come in the backdrop of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's recent remarks questioning the historic 1973 Kesavananda Bharti case verdict.

Dhankhar had said that the judgment has set a bad precedent and if any authority questions the power of Parliament to amend the Constitution, it would be difficult to say "we are a democratic nation".

Delivering the Nani A Palkiwala Memorial Lecture here, the Chief Justice said that the craft of a judge lies in interpreting the text of the Constitution with the changing times while keeping the spirit of the Constitution intact.

He said there has been a significant change in India's legal landscape in recent decades in favor of "de-throning regulations, promoting consumer welfare and supporting commercial transactions".

He said, “The basic structure of our Constitution guides like the pole star and gives a definite direction to the interpreters and implementers of the Constitution when the road ahead is complicated.

The basic structure or philosophy of our constitution is based on the supremacy of the constitution, rule of law, separation of powers, judicial review, secularism, federalism, liberty and dignity of the individual and unity and integrity of the nation.

The Chief Justice said that the emerging world economy has erased national boundaries and companies no longer stop at borders.

He said that the constitution allows the government to change and develop its legal and economic policies to meet social demands.

He said, “We have come a long way from the time when you had to wait a decade to get an essential phone and at times even longer to buy your car.

We have come a long way from the time of capital issue controls.

From time to time we need people like Nani (Palkiwala) to hold the torch in their hands to light up the world around us.

Nani told us that our constitution has a certain identity which cannot be changed.

Talking about Palkiwala and his many prominent cases, the Chief Justice said that he was at the forefront of preserving the original identity and fundamental principles enshrined in the Constitution.

ALSO READ --


-- Center orders blocking of tweets sharing BBC documentary on PM -- Sources


-- Basic structure of our Constitution guides us like Dhruv Tara: CJI DY Chandrachud



(This news has not been edited by NDTV team. It is published directly from syndicate feed.)

Featured Video Of The Day

City Express: Sadichha Sane's father raised questions on the claim of the police, said - if it is a murder, where is the body?