The Supreme Court

Article 124 of the Indian Constitution deals with the Establishment and constitution of the Supreme Court. Significantly, Article 129 of the Indian Constitution empowers the Supreme Court to be a Court of Record.

In 1961 the H.N. Sanyal Committee was constituted and to pursue its recommendation, the contempt of courts Act, 1971 was passed.

• Under Article 129 and Article 215, the Supreme Court and high court shall be a court of record and shall have all the power of such including the power to punish for contempt.

• The expression 'contempt of court' has not been defined by the constitution. It has been defined in the contempt of Courts Act 1971

• In India, the parliament has powers to make laws on contempt of court. Thus statements 1, 2 and 4 are correct.

The Supreme Court shall sit in Delhi or such other place or places, as the Chief Justice of India may, with the approval of the President, from time to time, appoint (Art. 130).

In the case of Keshavananda Bharti vs. the State of Kerala, (1973) a thirteen-Judges bench of the Indian Supreme Court, by a majority of 7:6, stated that the Parliament could only amend the Constitution to the extent that it did not "damage or destroy the basic structure of the Constitution" (under Article 368). Constitutional amendments are subject to judicial review; the Court essentially placed a substantive non-legislative check upon the Parliament's power of amendment.

In the case of Keshavananda Bharti vs. the State of Kerala, (1973) a thirteen-Judges bench of the Indian Supreme Court, by a majority of 7:6, stated that the Parliament could only amend the Constitution to the extent that it did not "damage or destroy the basic structure of the Constitution" (under Article 368). Constitutional amendments are subject to judicial review; the Court essentially placed a substantive non-legislative check upon the Parliament's power of amendment.

A Larger Bench of seven Judges in the Kesavananda Bharati Case unequivocally declared that the power of judicial review over legislative action vested in the High Courts under Article 226 and in the Supreme Court under Article 32 of the Constitution is an integral and essential feature of the Constitution, constituting part of its basic structure. Article 227 defines; that every High Court shall have superintendence over all courts and tribunals throughout the territories in relation to which it exercises Jurisdiction. These three Articles were declared the inviolable basic structure of the constitution of India in the Kesavananda Bharati Case.

The Parliament could not use its amending powers under Article 368 to 'damage,' destroy,' 'abrogate,' change' or alter the 'basic structure' or framework of the Constitution. The view expressed in Keshavananda Bharati Case was subsequently approved in the Minerva Mill's Case, 1980.

The largest bench (13 Judges) constituted by the Supreme Court till date was in the case of Keshavananda Bharati (1973). The second largest bench (11 Judges) constituted by the Supreme Court till date was in the Case of Golaknath vs. the State of Punjab (1967).

The Supreme Court held the above concept in the Case of Golaknath Vs. the State of Punjab.

Bella Banerjee Case is related to the West Bengal Land Development and Planning Act, 1948. The right to travel abroad as a part of personal liberty was considered in the case of Maneka Gandhi (1978). The pair of option (d) is incorrect.