New Delhi, October 22, 2024: In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of India has reaffirmed secularism as an integral and core part of the Basic Structure of the Constitution. The court made this observation while hearing a batch of petitions challenging the inclusion of the words "socialist" and "secular" in the Preamble to the Constitution.
The court rejected the arguments of the petitioners, who contended that these words were not part of the original Constitution and were introduced through the 42nd Amendment in 1976. The petitioners argued that the inclusion of these words infringed upon individual liberty and curtailed personal freedoms.
However, the court emphasized that secularism has always been a fundamental principle of the Constitution, even before the 42nd Amendment. It cited several previous judgments that have upheld secularism as an essential feature of the Basic Structure.
The court also dismissed the argument that the word "socialism" in the Preamble restricts personal liberty and individualism. It clarified that socialism can be interpreted in various ways and does not necessarily imply a specific economic system.
The ruling is a major victory for secularism and reaffirms its status as a core value of the Indian Constitution. It has important implications for the country's political and social landscape and sends a strong message in favor of religious tolerance and pluralism.
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