CONSTITUTIONAL LAW-I

COURSE CONTEXT

SCHOOL School of Law VERSION NO. OF

CURRICULUM THAT
THIS COURSE IS A
PART OF
DEPARTMENT School of Law DATE THIS COURSE August 2025
WILL BE EFFECTIVE
FROM
DEGREE B.A./B.B.A LL.B VERSION NUMBER
(Hons) OF THIS COURSE

COURSE BRIEF

COURSE Constitutional Law-I PRE-REQUISITES

TITLE

COURSE BA2103 TOTAL CREDITS 4

CODE
COURSE Core L-T-P FORMAT 4-1-1
TYPE

COURSE SUMMARY

COURSE OBJECTIVES: (CO)

CO1. To acquaint students with the concepts, doctrines, debates and
controversies of Constitutional Law.
CO2. To familiarize students with the political, social, and economic edifice of
the Constitution of India.
CO3. To foster an understanding of the nature and working of Constitution by
developing an analytical view point.
CO4. To educate students about the fundamental rights, duties and
policies underlining significant provisions which embraces broader
implications on the interpretations of constitutional provisions.
 COURSE-SPECIFIC LEARNING OUTCOMES: (CSO)
The students will be able to:
CSO1. Examine the historical evolution of constitutional law, doctrines, and,
standards.
CSO2. Apply an intensive understanding of fundamental rights and constitutional
jurisprudence to the intricate issues.
CSO3. Students will be able to appreciate the interface between
different constitutional principles and will be able to apply the
reasoning to the emerging issues and challenges.
CSO4.

COURSE OUTLINE:
An outline of the scheme of the modules is as follows:

Module – I: Fundamentals of Constitutional Law

a. Introduction to the History and Significance of the Constitutional Law
b. Constitutional Law & Constitutionalism
c. Salient Features of the Indian Constitution
d. Nature & Sources of Constitution
e. Kinds of Constitution
f. Key Concepts: - Rule of Law, Separation of Power, and, Doctrine of Checks &
Balances.
g. Preamble to the Constitution
h. Citizenship

Module – II: State & State Action

a. Definition & Scope of State
b. Other Authorities: Meaning, Scope & Development
c. Meaning & Definition of State Action
d. Article 13
e. Doctrines under Article 13: Doctrine of Eclipse, Doctrine of Severability & Doctrine
of Waiver & Doctrine of Colorable Legislation.
f. Definition of Law & Article 13 vis-à-vis Personal Law (Triple Talaq Judgment shall
be discussed to reflect the contemporary realm of society)

Cases:
❖ A.R. Antulay v. R.S. Nayak (1988)2SCC 602;
❖ Electricity Board, Rajasthan v. Mohan Lal AIR 1967 SC 1857;
❖ Ujjam Bai v. State of U.P. AIR 1962 SC 1621;
❖ Ramana Dayaram Shetty v. The International Airport Authority of India, AIR 1979
SC 1628;
❖ Ajay Hasia v. Khalid Mujib AIR 1981 SC 487;
❖ Central Inland Water Transport Corp. V. Brajonath Ganguly (1986)3 SCC
156;
❖ Pradeep Kumar Biswas v. Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (2002)5 SCC
111;
 ❖ Sabhajit Tewary v. Union of India and Others, AIR 1975 SC 1329
❖ Zee Telefilms Ltd. v. Union of India, AIR 2005 SC 2677
❖ Bashshar Nath v, C.T.T AIR 1959 SC 149;
❖ State of Bombay v RMDC AIR 1957 SC 628;
❖ Gajpati Narayan Dev v State of Orissa;
❖ Bhikaji v. State of M.P.AIR 1955 SC 781;
❖ Deep Chand v. State of U.P. AIR 1959 SC 648;
❖ State of Gujrat v. Sri Ambika Mills AIR 1974 SC 1300;
❖ Dulare Lodh v. IIIrd Additional judge Kanpur AIR 1984 SC 1260;
❖ Kameshwar v State of Bihar, AIR 1965 575
❖ Prafulla Kumar Mukherjee v Bank of Commerce (AIR 1947 PC 60).

Module – III: Right to Equality

a. General principles of Right to Equality: “Equality before the law; and; Equal
Protection of Laws”.
b. Doctrine of Reasonable Classification & Arbitrary State Action & Discretion
c. Rights of Non-Citizen under Equal Protection Clause.
d. No Discrimination on grounds of Religion, Sex, Caste, etc.
e. Affirmative Action (Women & Children, Educationally Backward Class,
Reservation in Admissions in Educational Institutions, etc.)
f. Equality of Opportunity in Public Employment.
g. Reservation for Backward Classes: Mandal Commission, Concept of Creamy Layer.
h. Reservation in Services and Promotion.

Cases:
❖ State of West Bengal v. Anwar Ali Sarkar AIR 1952 SC 75;
❖ Indira Nehru Gandhi v. Raj Narain, AIR 1975 SC 2299;
❖ R.K. Garg v. Union of India AIR 1981 SC 2138;
❖ Sanjeev Coke Mfg. Co. V. Bharat Cooking Coal Ltd. (1983) 1 SCC 147;
❖ Air India v. Narges Mirza, AIR 1981SC 1829;
❖ E.P. Royappa v. State of Tamil Nadu, AIR 1974 SC 555;
❖ D.S. Nakara v. Union of India AIR 1983 SC 130;
❖ K.A. Abbas v. Union of Inda, AIR 1971 SC 481;
❖ Mithu Singh v. State of Punjab, AIR 1983SC 473;
❖ Pradeep Jain v. Union of India, (1984) 3 SCC 654;
❖ BALCO Employees Union v. Union of India, AIR 2002 SC 350;
❖ Charan Lal Sahu v. Union of India, (1990) 1 SCC 663;
❖ In Re Special Court Bill, 1978, AIR 1979;
❖ A.K. Kraipak v. Union of India;
❖ In Re Kerala Education Bill, AIR 1958 SC 956
❖ State of Madras v. Champkam Dorairajan, AIR 1951 SC 226;
❖ Yusuf Abdul Aziz v. State of Bombay, AIR 1954 SC 321;
❖ M. R. Balaji v. State of Mysore, AIR 1963 SC 649;
❖ Chitralekha v. State of Mysore, AIR 1964 SC 1823
❖ T. Devadasan v. Union of India, AIR 1964 SC 179;
❖ State of Kerala v. N.M. Thomas;(1976)2 SCC 310
❖ State of M.P. v. Nivedita Jain AIR 1981 SC 2045;
 ❖ Indra Sawhney v. Union of India, AIR 1993 SC 477 (The Mandal Commission
Case);
❖ Indira Shawney v. Union of India, (1999) Supp 5 SCC 557 (559);
❖ Dr. Preeti Srivastava v. State of Madhya Pradesh, (1999)7 SCC 120
❖ T.M.A. Pai Foundation v. State of Karnataka (2002) 8 SCC 481
❖ E. V. Chinnaian v. State of Andhra Pradesh, (2005)1 SCC 394
❖ P.A. Inamdar v. State of Maharashtra, (2005) 6 SCC 537;
❖ Ashok Kumar Thakur v. State of Bihar (2008)6 SCC 1.

Module – IV: Freedom of Speech & Expression

a. Freedom of Speech & Expressions (Freedom of Press, Right to Information, Right to
Privacy, Reasonable Restrictions).
b. Freedom to Assemble and form Associations.
c. Freedom to Move & Reside.
d. Freedom to carry on Trade & Commerce (State Monopoly).

Cases:
❖ Brij Bhusan v. Delhi, AIR 1950 SC 129;
❖ Express Newspapers v. Union of India, AIR 1958 SC 578;
❖ Hamdard Dawakhana v. Union of India, AIR 1960 SC 554;
❖ Sakal Papers v. Union of India AIR 1962 SC 305;
❖ Kharak Singh v. State of U.P. AIR 1963 SC 1295;
❖ K.A. Abbas v. Union of India AIR 1971 SC 481;
❖ Bennett Coleman v. Union of India, AIR 1973 SC 106;
❖ Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India, AIR 1978 SC 597;
❖ Indian Express Newspapers(Bombay)Pvt. Ltd. v. Union of India AIR 1986 SC
515;
❖ Bijoe Emmanuel v. State of Kerala, AIR 1987 SC 748;
❖ Printers (Mysore) Ltd. v. Assistant Commercial Tax Officer (1994)2 SCC 434;
❖ Derbyshire County Council v. Times Newspaper Ltd. (1993)2 WLR 449;
❖ R. Rajgopal v. State of Tamilnadu, AIR 1995 SC 264;
❖ Bharat Kumar K. Palicha v. State of Kerala, AIR 1997 Ker.291;
❖ Communist Party of India v. Bharat Kumar, AIR 1998 SC 184;
❖ Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India, Criminal appeal No. 76 of 2016.

Module – V: RIGHT TO LIFE & PERSONAL LIBERTIES

A. Article 20
a) Ex-Post Facto Laws.
b) Double Jeopardy.
c) Self-Incrimination.

B. Article 21
a) Right to Life & Personal Liberty.
b) Due Process & Procedure Established by Law.
c) Constitutionality of Capital Punishment.
d) Adultery Laws.
e) Right to Die.
 f) Right to Privacy.
g) Others.

C. Article 21 A: Right to Education

D. Article 22: Protection of Accused & Arrested Persons.

Cases:
❖ A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras, [1950] SCR 88
❖ Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India, AIR 1978 SC 597
❖ Bandhua Mukti Morcha v. Union of India, AIR 1984 SC 802;
❖ Bhim Singh v. State of Jammu & Kashmir, AIR 1986 SC 494;
❖ Bijoe Emmanuel v. State of Kerala, AIR 1987 SC 748;
❖ D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal, AIR 1997 SC 610;
❖ Francis Coralie Mullin v. Administrator, Union Territory of Delhi, AIR 1981 SC
746;
❖ Hussainara v. Home Secretary, State of Bihar, AIR 1979 SC 1360 ;
❖ Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action v. Union of India, AIR 1996 SC 1446;
❖ J.P. Unikrishnan v. State of Andhra Pradesh, AIR 1993 SC 2178;
❖ Kharak Singh v. State of Uttar Pradesh, AIR 1963 SC 1295;
❖ Khatri (II) v. State of Bihar, AIR 1981 SC 928;
❖ M.H. Hoskot v. State of Maharashtra, AIR 1978 SC 1548;
❖ Nandini Satpathy v. Dani (P.L.) & Anr., AIR 1978 SC 1025;
❖ Narmada Bachao Andolan v. Union of India, AIR 2000 SC 3751;
❖ National Human Rights Commission v. State of Arunachal Pradesh, AIR 1996 SC
1234.
❖ Nilabati Behera v. State of Orissa, AIR 1993 SC 1960;
❖ Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corporation, AIR 1986 SC 180;
❖ P. Rathinam Nagbhusan Patnaik v. Union of India, JT (1994) 3 SC 392;
❖ Parmanand Katara v. Union of India, AIR 1989 SC 2039;
❖ Paschim Bangal Khet Mazdoor Society v. State of West Bengal, AIR 1996 SC
2426;
❖ People Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) v. Union of India, AIR 1997 SC 568;
❖ People’s Union for Democratic Rights v. Police Commissioner, (1989) 4 SCC
730;
❖ Rudul Shah v. State of Bihar, AIR 1983 SC 1086;
❖ Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra v. State of Uttar Pradesh, AIR 1989
SC 594;
❖ Sebastian Hongray v. Union of India, AIR 1984 SC 571;
❖ Sheela Barse v. Union of India, AIR 1986 SC 1773;
❖ Smt. Selvi & Others v. State of Karnataka, Criminal Appeal No.1267 of 2004
decided in 2010;
❖ K.S Puttaswamy v. Union of India, Civil Appeal No. 76 of 2012
❖ Joseph Shine v. Union of India, Criminal Appeal No. 576 of 2016
❖ Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India, Criminal Appeal No. 76 of 2016
❖ Common Cause (A Regd. Society) v. U.O.I, Writ Petition No. 215 of 2005
Module – VI: RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF RELIGION [ARTICLE 25 TO 28]

a. Secularism in Indian Constitution.

b. Right to profess, propagate & practice any religion and conscience of one’s own
(Special Reference to Essential Religious Practices shall be made).
c. Restrictions on Freedom of Religion.
d. Other facets of Freedom of Religion (Conversion Laws, Role of Constitutional
Morality under Freedom of Religion, Uniform Civil Code vis-à-vis Freedom of
Religion).

Cases:
❖ Rev. Stainislaus v. State of Madhya Pradesh, AIR 1977 SC 908;
❖ Gulam Abbas v. State of U.P. AIR 1981 SC 2198;
❖ Bijoe Emmanuel v. State of Kerala, AIR 1987 SC 748;
❖ S.R. Bommai v Union of India, AIR 1994 SC 1918;
❖ M. Ismail Faruqui v. Union of India, AIR 1995 SC 604;
❖ Lily Thomas v. Union of India, AIR 2000 SC 1650;
❖ Sarla Mudgal v. Union of India, AIR 1995 SS 1531;
❖ Church of God (Full Gospel) in India v. K.K.R.M.C. Welfare
Association, AIR 2000 SC 2773;
❖ Mohd. Hanif Quareshi & Others vs The State Of Bihar, 1958 AIR 731
❖ Sharaya Bano v. UoI (2017) 9 SCC 1;
❖ Young Indian Lawyers Association v. U.O.I., Writ Petition (Civil) No.
373 of 2006.

Module – VII: PROTECTION OF MINORITY IN INDIAN CONSTITUTION

[ARTICLE 29 & ARTICLE 30]

a. Who is Minority?
b. Provisions for Special protection to Minority under Constitution of India.
c. Minority Rights to establish and administer Educational Institutions.

Cases:
❖ State of Bombay v. Bombay Educational Society AIR 1954 SC 561;
❖ In Re Kerala Education Bill, AIR 1958 SC 956;
❖ S. Azeez Basha v. Union of India AIR 1968 SC 662;
❖ Rev. Father W. Proost v. State of Bihar, AIR 1969 SC 465;
❖ State of Kerala v. Mother Provincial, AIR 1970 SC 2079;
❖ S.K. Patro v. State of Bihar, AIR 1970 SC 259;
❖ D. A.V. College, Jullundur v. State of Punjab, AIR 1971 SC 1737;
❖ Ahmadabad St. Xavier’s College v. State of Gujarat AIR 1974 SC 389;
❖ Managing Board M.T.M. v. State of Bihar, AIR 1984 SC 1757;
❖ St. Stephen’s College v. University of Delhi AIR 1992 SC 1630;
❖ T.M.A. Pai Foundation v. State of Karnataka (2002) 8 SCC 481;
❖ P.A. Inamdar v. State of Maharashtra, (2005) 6 SCC 537;
❖ Islamic Academy of Edn. & Anr. vs. State of Karnataka & Ors, AIR 2003 SC
3724.
Module VIII: RIGHT TO CONSTITUTIONAL REMEDIES (ARTICLE 32)

a. Right to move to the Supreme Court.

b. Writs: Nature & Types.
c. Article 32 vis-à-vis Article 226.
d. Remedies under Article 32.

Cases:
❖ State of Madras v. V. G. Row;
❖ AIR 1952 SC 196 Daryao v. State of Uttar Pradesh;
❖ AIR 1961 SC Bandhua Mukti Morcha v. Union of India;
❖ AIR 1984 SC 802; P. L. Lakhanpal v. Union of India, AIR 1967 SC 908;
❖ Lallubhai v. Union of India, AIR 1981 SC 728;
❖ Vishakha v. State of Rajasthan, AIR 1997 SC 3011.

Module IX: DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY

a. Nature & Object of Directive Principles of State Policy.

b. Justiciability of Directive Principles.
c. Classification of Directive Principles.
d. Relationship between Fundamental Rights & Directive Principles.
e. Uniform Civil Code (With reference to Goa Civil Code).

Cases:
❖ State of Madras v. Champkan Dorairajan, AIR 1951 SC 226;
❖ Kameshwar Singh v. State of Bihar, AIR 1951 SC;
❖ Shankari Prasad v. Union of India, AIR 1951 SC 455;
❖ Sajjan Singh v. State of Rajasthan, AIR 1965 SC 845;
❖ Excel Wear v. Union of India, AIR 1979 SC 25;
❖ R.C. Cooper v. Union of India; 1970 AIR SC 1318
❖ Madhav Rao Schidia v. Union of India; (1971) 1 SCC 85
❖ Keshavananada Bharati v. State of Kerala, AIR 1973 SC 1461
❖ Minerva Mills Ltd v. Union of India, AIR 1980 SC 1789;
❖ Waman Rao v. Union of India, AIR 1981 SC 271;
❖ I.R.Coelho v. State of Tamil Nadu& Others, AIR 2007 SC.
❖ Lily Thomas v. Union of India, AIR 2000 SC 1650;
❖ Mohd. Ahmed Khan vs Shah Bano Begum, 1985 AIR 945;
❖ Danial Latifi & Anr. vs Union of India, Writ Petition (civil) 868 of 1986
❖ Sarla Mudgal v. Union of India, AIR 1995 SS 1531;
❖ Mohd. Hanif Quareshi & Others vs The State Of Bihar, 1958 AIR 731
❖ Sharaya Bano v. Union of India (2017) 9 SCC 1.

Module X: FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES OF THE CITIZENS

 a. Background Information
b. Fundamental Duties

Cases:

❖ Bijoe Emmanuel vs. State of Kerala, 1987 AIR 748, 1986 SCR (3) 518;
❖ Javed vs. State of Haryana, (2003) 8 SCC 369

TEACHING – LEARNING – PEDAGOGY:

I. This course comprises of 10 modules spread across 56 lectures and 14 tutorials.

Each of which shall have a duration of 1 Hour.
II. There will also be an additional session of 1 Hour/week; for conducting debates
and discussions on the contemporary expanses of constitutional law and its impact
on the political, social, economic, and, democratic set ups (including landmark
case laws)
III. Lectures shall be used as an interactive tool as a crucial part of an instructor driven
pedagogy. Concepts and practical applications of constitutional principles will be
discussed through judgment discussions, audio-video aids and other required tools.
IV. Tutorial are specifically the sessions for the discussion of case laws and
contemporary constitutional issues, through discussions, debates, role play, video
clips etc. for evolving real-world pertinency of constitutional interpretations.
Doubt clearing sessions will also be conducted.
V. For developing and fostering a critical sense of constitutional interpretation, the
students will also be made familiar to the Constitutional Assembly Debates.

EVALUATION COMPONENTS:

Components of Course Evaluation Percentage

Minor Examination 25%
Continuous Internal Assessment 25%
Major Examination 50%
Total 100%
Maximum Marks: 100 Marks

LEARNING RESOURCES:

Text Books:

1. V.N. Shukla’s Constitution of India, Eastern Book Company, 13th Edition,

2021.
2. M.P. Jain: Indian Constitutional Law, 8th Edition, 2021.

Reference Books:

1. Durga Das Basu, Constitutional Law of India. Butterworth LexisNexis, 9th Edition,
2021.
2. H.M. Seervai: Constitutional Law of India: A Critical Commentary, Law & Justice
Publishing Co., 4th Edition, 2017.
3. A. Lakshminath: Judicial Process and Precedent, Easterm Book Company, 4th
Edition, 2006.
4. Sudhir Krishnaswamy, Democracy & Constitutionalism, Oxford University Press,
2009.
5. Gautam Bhatia, The Transformative Constitution (A Radical Biography in Nine
Acts), HapperCollins Publishing India, 2019.
6. R.C. Lahoti, Preamble- The Spirit and Backbone of the Constitution of India,
Eastern Book Company, 2017.
7. A.V. Dicey: An Introduction to the Study of the Law of the Constitution. Universal
Law Publishing Co.
8. Chemerinsky: Constitutional Law: ASPEN Publishers 2005.
9. M.R. Mallick: Writs: Law and Practice. Eastern Law House.