[1] The 24th Amendment was enacted, by the Congress government headed by Indira Gandhi, to abrogate the Supreme Court ruling in Golaknath v. State of Punjab.
The Supreme Court upheld the validity of the 24th Amendment in Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala in 1973.
[1] The full text of the Statement of Objects and Reasons appended to the bill is given below: The Supreme Court in the well-known Golak Nath's case [1967, 2 S.C.R.
The result of the judgment is that Parliament is considered to have no power to take away or curtail any of the fundamental rights guaranteed by Part III of the Constitution even if it becomes necessary to do so for giving effect to the Directive Principles of State Policy and for the attainment of the objectives set out in the Preamble to the Constitution.
Gokhale further stated that Directive Principles must prevail over Fundamental Rights, in case of conflict between the two.
[6] Union Education Minister Siddhartha Shankar Ray stated that allowing judgements like that in the Golaknath case would have "disastrous consequences".
Congress member Darbara Singh felt that "the attitude of the Supreme Court must change with the times".
Gopalan, leader of the Communist Party (Marxist) (CPM), supported the bill during the debate in the Lok Sabha on 3 August.
Gopalan stated that the present Constitution was a "bundle of contradictions" drawn up by "representatives of princely houses and big business".
Parliament now has the power to deny the seven freedoms, abolish Constitutional remedies available to citizens, and to change the federal character of the Union.
"[10] Legal expert V. G. Ramachandran, writing in the Supreme Court Cases Journal in 1971, stated that the 24th and 25th Amendments were "not 'tinkering' with the Constitution.
[9] He felt that the 25th Amendment "smacks of totalitarianism and hurry to achieve socialism instantly overnight".
[9] Mahommedali Currim Chagla, former Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, opposed the 24th Amendment.
The 24th Amendment was also opposed by B. Shiva Rao, Frank Anthony and all surviving members of the Constituent Assembly.
[10] The 24th Amendment was the first of a series of measures taken by Indira Gandhi to increase her power, and establish one-party rule.
[10] It was followed by several constitutional amendments designed to weaken the judiciary, and enhance the authority of Parliament and the Prime Minister's Office.
[5][13] The government of Indira Gandhi did not take kindly to this implied restriction on its powers by the court.