Assam News

CM Sarbananda Sonowal condoles demise of Swami Kesavananda Bharati

He was a petitioner in a case that led to the Supreme Court evolving the celebrated doctrine of basic structure of the Constitution

Sentinel Digital Desk

Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday mourned condoles on the demise of Swami Kesavananda Bharati ji.

He also stated "His landmark case in the SC established the Basic Structure doctrine of the Constitution, which remains a cornerstone for the nation."

The name behind the landmark judgement, Kesavananda Bharati brought the basic rights under the Constitution, passed away at 80 on Sunday morning.

 Kesavananda Bharati was the Chief of Edaneer Math in Kerala's Kasargod.

He was a petitioner in a case that led to the Supreme Court evolving the celebrated doctrine of basic structure of the Constitution

Police officials stated the 80 year old Kerala-based seer Kesavananda Bharati Sripadagalvaru died at Edaneer Math due to age-related ailments.

"As per the information with us, he passed away at around 3.30 AM on Sunday," police told sources.

Swami Bharati had challenged a Kerala Land Reform Act nearly four decades ago. The case set the principle that the Supreme Court is the guardian of the basic structure of the Constitution.

As per reports, the verdict of the case involved 13 judges the largest bench ever to sit in the apex court.

The case of revolutionary figure Bharati ji vs State of Kerala was heard for 68 days and continues to hold the top spot for the longest proceedings ever to have taken place in the top court.

Notably, the Supreme Court by a razor-thin majority of 7:6 Judges held that Parliament had no power to alter the "basic structure" of the Constitution.

Since then, the basic structure doctrine has been regarded as a tenet of Indian constitutional law.