SHORT ANSWER:
The basic structure doctrine limits the power of Parliament to amend the Constitution in a way that alters its fundamental framework.
DETAILS:
- Established by the Supreme Court in the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973).
- Judicial review can strike down amendments that violate the basic structure of the Constitution.
- Ensures that essential features like democracy, rule of law, and fundamental rights are preserved.
PUNISHMENT / IMPLICATIONS (if applicable):
- Amendments violating the basic structure can be declared unconstitutional and void.
SOURCE:
- Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala, 1973 (Supreme Court Judgment)
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