Myth-Busting Constitutional Law: From “It’s All Abstract” to “It’s Everyday Life”

Picture this: you’re in a cramped hostel room, scrolling through CLAT prep material, and a friend tosses you a sentence that sounds like a law school mantra: “Constitutional law is all about abstract principles; it never touches the real world.” You’re skeptical. You’ve seen how Article 14 and Article 19 pop up in exam questions, but you’ve never felt the pulse of a court case. That’s where my own myth‑busting adventure begins.

My first encounter with the myth was during a study‑group session in my second year. We were debating whether the “Right to Equality” (Article 14) was merely a philosophical ideal or a living tool. I decided to pull a case study that would either confirm or shatter the myth. I chose Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973), a case that still echoes in every CLAT syllabus.

“The basic structure of the Constitution cannot be amended.” — Kesavananda Bharati, 1973.

Why did I pick this case? Because it demonstrates how the judiciary interprets the Constitution as a dynamic instrument. The Supreme Court held that while Parliament has wide powers to amend, it cannot alter the Constitution’s “basic structure.