Consider the following sentences regarding the IX Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
1. The constitution assembly enacted Ninth Schedule in the original Constitution to ensure agrarian reform.
2. To reduce the discrimination and denial of equal protection of laws guaranteed to citizens under Article 14 of the Constitution.
3. After the landmark judgement of the Supreme Court in 2007, the now well-settled principle is that any law placed under Ninth Schedule is subject to Court scrutiny.
The correct answer/s is/are:
Last updated Jun 24, 2026
Correct Answer:
Option B —
2 and 3 only
The Ninth Schedule is one of the most debated parts of the Indian Constitution, as it was created specifically to shield certain laws from judicial review. Here is why the statements are evaluated as follows:
1. Origin of the Ninth Schedule (Statement 1 is Incorrect)
The Ninth Schedule was not part of the original Constitution enacted in 1949. It was added by the First Constitutional Amendment Act, 1951, by the Provisional Parliament (led by Jawaharlal Nehru). It was created to protect land reform laws (agrarian reforms) from being struck down by courts on the grounds that they violated the Right to Property.
2. Purpose of the Schedule (Statement 2 is Correct)
One of the primary reasons for creating this "protective umbrella" was to prevent laws—especially those dealing with social and economic justice—from being challenged under Article 14 (Right to Equality) and Article 19. By shielding these laws, the government aimed to implement land redistribution without the "discrimination" claims from wealthy zamindars (landowners) who argued that their right to equal protection of laws was being violated.
3. The 2007 Landmark Judgement (Statement 3 is Correct)
In the case of I.R. Coelho v. State of Tamil Nadu (2007), the Supreme Court ruled that there is no "blanket immunity" for laws in the Ninth Schedule. The Court held that any law added to the Ninth Schedule after April 24, 1973 (the date of the Kesavananda Bharati judgment), can be challenged if it violates the Basic Structure of the Constitution, including Fundamental Rights like Articles 14, 19, and 21.
Answer verified by Quintessence Classes faculty — Karan Nagar, Srinagar.
