The concept of ‘Basic Structure of Constitution’ derives its origin from the Basic Structure Doctrine given by Supreme Court of India in the landmark judgment of ‘Kesavananda Bharati vs State of Kerala case (1973)’. 

In Kesavananda Bharati Case, the Constitutional bench of SC held that “Although Parliament can amend any part of the Constitution including Fundamental Rights, it cannot alter/ abrogate the ‘Basic structure of the Constitution’ even by a constitutional amendment.” 

It also implied that the judiciary can strike down any amendment passed by Parliament if it is in conflict with the basic structure of the Constitution. 

Although Supreme Court did not define the term ‘Basic Structure’ in 1973, it has listed many principles/provisions from time to time which are to be considered as the part of basic structure of the Constitution. 

Since 1973, following provisions have been interpreted by SC through various judgements to be the part of Basic structure of Constitution: 

• The supremacy of the Constitution 
• Rule of law 
• Independence of the judiciary and Judicial review 
• Doctrine of separation of powers 
• Sovereign republic nature of India State 
• Parliamentary form of government 
• Principle of free and fair elections 
• Core values such as federalism, secularism, democracy 
• Balance between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles 
• India to be a welfare state 

Important point to note about the Basic Structure doctrine is that the word ‘Basic Structure’ is nowhere mentioned in the constitution.  It was Justice Mudholkar who used the phrase ‘Basic structure/feature’ of the Constitution for the first time in the  Sajjan Singh case of 1965.