LANDMARK CASE
Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India
(1978) 1 SCC 248 · Supreme Court of India · Constitutional law
At a glance
- Citation: (1978) 1 SCC 248
- Court: Supreme Court of India
- Area of law: Constitutional law
- In one line: The procedure must be fair, just and reasonable. Articles 14, 19 and 21 are connected, and natural justice applies.
1 Facts
The petitioner's passport was impounded 'in the public interest' under the Passports Act without giving her reasons or a hearing.
2 Issue
Does 'procedure established by law' in Article 21 mean any procedure enacted by law, or must it be fair?
3 What the court decided
The procedure must be fair, just and reasonable. Articles 14, 19 and 21 are connected, and natural justice applies.
4 Why it matters
It transformed Article 21 into the source of rights like legal aid, speedy trial, privacy and dignity.
5 Think about it
Compare this case with A.K. Gopalan. What changed in how the Court read fundamental rights?
6 Analyse it yourself
Read the full judgment from an official source or a law database, then brief it in seven steps: facts, issues, arguments, decision, ratio, obiter and significance. Always check the citation before you rely on it.
7 More cases on Constitutional law
- A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras AIR 1950 SC 27
- ADM Jabalpur v. Shivkant Shukla (1976) 2 SCC 521
- Air India v. Nergesh Meerza (1981) 4 SCC 335
- Ajay Hasia v. Khalid Mujib Sehravardi (1981) 1 SCC 722
- Anuj Garg v. Hotel Association of India (2008) 3 SCC 1
- Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India (2020) 3 SCC 637
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A short teaching summary for students. Educational content only, not legal advice.