In a historic ruling, the Supreme Court of India has clarified the balance between private property rights and state power, setting a new legal precedent
The ruling originated from 16 petitions, starting with a 1992 case by a property owners' body, challenging Article 39(B)'s resource distribution interpretation
The judgment stated that categorising all private property as a “material resource of the community” is unjustified, stressing context-specific application
The Court noted that while socialist policies hindered growth, high growth came from reducing state control, not solely from state intervention
The Court urged a balanced interpretation of Directive Principles, reinforcing that the state must respect pvt property rights within fair distribution aims
This judgment marks a victory for constitutional principles, supporting property rights and economic growth, and strengthening India’s judicial integrity