ASKiIMAN™ ARCHIVE / INDIAN POLITY
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Judicial Review

The Ultimate Filter of the State

PART I — THE SCOPE

LEGISLATION

Review of Acts

  • Tests Acts of Parliament/State Legs.
  • Strikes down *ultra vires* laws.
  • Checks legislative competence.
  • Enforces Fundamental Rights constraints.
EXECUTIVE ACTION

Review of Orders

  • Checks arbitrary admin actions.
  • Ensures rules map to Parent Act.
  • Guards against malice/bias.
  • Upholds the Rule of Law.

PART II — CONSTITUTIONAL ANCHORS

THE MANDATE

Articles 13, 32, 226

  • Art 13: Laws inconsistent with FRs are void.
  • Art 32/226: Writ jurisdiction power.
  • Art 136: Special Leave Petition.
  • Explicit constitutional authority.
BASIC STRUCTURE

The Unamendable Link

  • Declared a Basic Feature (*Minerva Mills*).
  • Cannot be amended away by Art 368.
  • Parliament cannot shield laws from it.
  • The ultimate protector of democracy.
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