Supreme Court Judgments

Ayodhya Land Dispute Case

• Judgment: The Supreme Court’s verdict in 2019 on the Ayodhya land dispute settled a decades-long religious conflict. The Court ruled in favor of constructing a Ram temple at the disputed site while allocating a separate plot for a mosque.
• Relevance: This case highlights constitutional principles such as secularism, the rule of law, and judicial balance.

Right to Privacy (Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India)

• Judgment: The 9-judge bench declared the right to privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution.
• Relevance: Critical for discussions on data protection, surveillance laws, and personal autonomy.

Maratha Reservation Case (Jaishri Laxmanrao Patil v. Chief Minister)

• Judgment: The Court struck down Maharashtra’s law granting reservation to Marathas, emphasizing the 50% cap on reservations.
• Relevance: Explores affirmative action, equality under Article 14, and federalism.

Sabarimala Case (Indian Young Lawyers Association v. State of Kerala)

• Judgment: Allowed entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple, emphasizing gender equality.
• Relevance: Links to debates on freedom of religion and gender justice.

EWS Quota Judgment

• Judgment: Upheld the 103rd Constitutional Amendment providing 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).
• Relevance: A landmark for social justice and equality debates.

Review Questions

1. What was the significance of the Ayodhya judgment?
2. Discuss the implications of the right to privacy as a fundamental right.
3. How does the Maratha reservation judgment affect affirmative action policies?
4. Analyze the Sabarimala verdict in the context of gender equality.
5. What is the impact of the EWS quota judgment on the reservation system?