Top 10 Court Cases Every CLAT Aspirant Should Know

CL Team September 18 2025

2 min read

Preparing for CLAT isn’t just about mastering reasoning and language skills. Law aspirants must also have a foundational awareness of landmark judgments that have shaped Indian constitutional and legal history. These cases often appear directly in CLAT legal reasoning sections or indirectly through principles and precedents.

At Career Launcher South Ex, Delhi, we train aspirants not only in exam strategies but also in building a strong conceptual base of law. One essential pillar of this foundation is knowing landmark court cases. This blog highlights 10 must-know cases for every CLAT aspirant — with summaries, significance, and practice questions.

Why Landmark Cases Matter for CLAT

Legal Reasoning – Questions often mirror real-life case situations.
GK/Legal Awareness – Landmark judgments are frequently asked.
Interview Readiness – For top law schools, knowledge of legal history shows depth.
Concept Clarity – Cases illustrate how abstract constitutional provisions work in practice.

Top 10 Court Cases Every CLAT Aspirant Should Know

1. Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973)

Principle: Established the “Basic Structure Doctrine.” Parliament cannot alter the Constitution’s basic structure.
Significance: Safeguards democracy from absolute parliamentary power.

2. Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978)

Principle: Expanded Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty) to include dignity, privacy, and fairness.
Significance: Interpreted “procedure established by law” as fair, just, and reasonable.

3. Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain (1975)

Principle: Prime Minister’s election was invalidated, leading to constitutional amendments on election laws.
Significance: Reinforced judicial review against arbitrary state power.

4. Shah Bano Case (1985)

Principle: Muslim woman’s right to maintenance under Section 125 CrPC.
Significance: Sparked debate on uniform civil code and women’s rights.

5. Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan (1997)

Principle: Laid down guidelines to prevent sexual harassment at workplace.
Significance: Birth of “Vishaka Guidelines,” precursor to POSH Act, 2013.

6. Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India (2018)

Principle: Decriminalized homosexuality by striking down Section 377 IPC (in part).
Significance: Recognized LGBTQ+ rights under equality and dignity.

7. Indian Young Lawyers Association v. State of Kerala (2018) – Sabarimala Case

Principle: Women of all ages allowed entry into Sabarimala temple.
Significance: Landmark case on gender equality and right to religion.

8. M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (1986 onwards)

Principle: Series of environmental protection cases — from pollution control to Ganga cleaning.
Significance: Expanded scope of Article 21 to include environmental rights.

9. Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017)

Principle: Recognized Right to Privacy as a Fundamental Right under Article 21.
Significance: Crucial for debates around Aadhaar, surveillance, and data protection.

10. Minerva Mills v. Union of India (1980)

Principle: Reaffirmed the Basic Structure Doctrine, striking balance between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles.
Significance: Protected Constitution from excessive parliamentary amendment powers.

Sample Practice Questions

Q1. Which case established the “Basic Structure Doctrine”? a) Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India b) Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala c) Minerva Mills v. Union of India d) Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain Answer: b

Q2. Which judgment recognized the Right to Privacy as a Fundamental Right? Answer: Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017)

Q3. Match the following:

Vishaka Case – a) Right to Privacy
Shah Bano Case – b) Sexual Harassment Guidelines
Puttaswamy Case – c) Women’s Maintenance Rights

Answer: 1-b, 2-c, 3-a

How to Use These Cases for CLAT Prep

Flashcards – Write the case name on one side, principle on the other.
Group Quizzes – Test peers with “Which case?” style questions.
Mock Legal Reasoning – Apply these principles in case-study style passages.
Weekly Review – Revise 2–3 cases every Sunday for long-term memory.

Conclusion

For every CLAT aspirant, knowing landmark judgments is non-negotiable. These cases form the backbone of Indian constitutional law and regularly feature in exam papers. By studying them systematically — understanding principles, significance, and practical application — you build not just exam readiness but also a lawyer’s perspective.

At Career Launcher South Ex, Delhi, we integrate these landmark cases into our legal reasoning and GK sessions, ensuring that aspirants don’t just memorize, but also analyze and apply them in real-world scenarios. Mastering these cases could be the edge that helps you crack CLAT with confidence.