Reviewed case brief

Keshavan Madhava Menon v State of Bombay

AIR 1951 SC 128

AIR 1951 SC 128 · Supreme Court of India

article-13prospective-operationpre-constitution-lawvested-rights
Court
Supreme Court of India
Year
1951
Subjects
Constitutional Law I
Reviewed
2026-08-02

Rule established

Article 13(1) operates only prospectively; it renders pre-Constitution laws inconsistent with fundamental rights void only from the date the Constitution commenced (26 January 1950), and does not affect proceedings, rights, or liabilities that had already accrued before that date.

Facts

    Issues

      Held

        Ratio decidendi

        How to use it in an exam

        Editorial source

        AIR 1951 SC 128; foundational early authority on prospective operation of Article 13(1)

        Educational summary only. Read the reported judgment or an authorised law report before relying on the case professionally.