Article 31B was introduced to protect which type of laws from court challenges?

The correct answer is Land reform laws.

Key Points

• Article 31B was introduced in the Constitution of India through the First Amendment Act of 1951 to provide protection to certain laws from judicial review.
• The primary purpose of Article 31B was to safeguard land reform laws from being challenged in courts on the grounds of violation of fundamental rights.
• Laws listed under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution are protected by Article 31B, ensuring they cannot be invalidated by courts.
• This provision was critical for implementing agrarian reforms and redistributing land to reduce inequalities in rural India.
• It was aimed at addressing socio-economic disparities and promoting equitable land ownership among citizens, especially marginalized communities.

Additional Information

• First Amendment Act, 1951
  • The First Amendment introduced Article 31B and the Ninth Schedule to protect laws related to land reforms and socio-economic development.
  • It was enacted under the leadership of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
  • This amendment was essential to address challenges posed by judicial scrutiny of land redistribution laws.
• Ninth Schedule of the Constitution
  • The Ninth Schedule lists laws that are immune from judicial review under Article 31B.
  • Initially, 13 laws were included in the Ninth Schedule, primarily dealing with land reforms.
  • Over time, more laws were added, covering various socio-economic measures.
• Land Reforms in India
  • Land reforms involved measures such as abolishing zamindari (landlord system) and redistributing land to landless farmers.
  • These reforms were aimed at reducing rural poverty and fostering agricultural development.
  • Article 31B ensured these reforms were not obstructed by legal challenges.
• Judicial Review and Fundamental Rights
  • Article 13 of the Constitution empowers the judiciary to review laws that violate fundamental rights.
  • Article 31B creates an exception by protecting certain laws listed under the Ninth Schedule from such scrutiny.
  • This ensures that socio-economic reforms are not impeded by judicial intervention.