Taking The Constitution Away From The Supreme Court of India

Abstract

In very few countries worldwide, is constitutionalism confined to the apex court’s courtrooms, the way it is in India. This facet of Indian political life has been taken so much for granted that rarely have people stopped to examine whether it is even desirable. This article will argue that on a closer examination, the Supreme Court is an inefficient forum to realise the Constitution’s promises and more so in today’s political climate. On the contrary, India’s Supreme Court centric constitutionalism raises more challenges than it resolves. This article will suggest that there is an urgent need to usher in a revolution of popular constitutionalism wherein the battles regarding the Constitution are predominately fought outside the Supreme Court rather than within. While such arguments have been made in the Anglo-American context, seldom have scholars advocated for popular constitutionalism in global south countries like India, where courts are considered vital for constitutional sustenance. In departing from this trend, this article will demonstrate how although the Supreme Court might still have a crucial role to play, ‘Taking The Constitution Away From the Supreme Court’ is indispensable.