ESSENTIAL CASE LAWS FOR EXAM

1.       Lalita Kumari v. State of UP (2014)

The Rule: Registration of an FIR is mandatory under Section 154 CrPC (now Section 173 BNSS) if the information discloses the commission of a cognizable offence.

2.       State of Maharashtra v. Mohd. Yakub (1980)

The Rule: Clarified the distinction between preparation and attempt. An act constitutes an attempt if it is a "proximate" step toward the crime that goes beyond mere preparation.

3.       Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973)

The Rule: Established the Basic Structure Doctrine, ruling that Parliament cannot amend the fundamental features of the Constitution.

4.       D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal (1997)

The Rule: Laid down 11 mandatory guidelines for arrest and detention to prevent custodial torture. Most of these protections are now codified in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

5.       K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017)

The Rule: Declared the Right to Privacy a fundamental right under Article 21. This impacts how digital evidence and search/seizure are handled under the new BSA.

6.       Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978)

The Rule: Expanded the scope of Article 21, establishing that any procedure depriving a person of life or liberty must be "just, fair, and reasonable," not merely arbitrary.

7.       All India Judges Association v. Union of India (2025)

The Rule: The Supreme Court restored the requirement of 3 years of legal practice for Civil Judge (Junior Division) eligibility.

8.       Mahboob Shah v. Emperor (1945)

The Rule: Distinguished between "common intention" (Section 34 IPC / Section 3(5) BNS) and "similar intention." It requires a prior meeting of minds for joint liability.

9.       Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar (2014)

The Rule: To prevent misuse of Section 498A (Cruelty), the SC ruled that arrest should not be automatic in offences punishable by less than 7 years of imprisonment.

10.   Hussainara Khatoon v. Home Secretary, State of Bihar (1979)

The Rule: Established the Right to a Speedy Trial as an integral part of Article 21, which is a core objective of the new procedural laws (BNSS).