Constitution of India · Part IV: Directive Principles of State Policy

Article 39A: Equal justice and free legal aid

Official text

Source: India Code (Legislative Department), the official text of the Constitution of India. As amended up to the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023. Text as on 10 September 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.

Supreme Court judgments citing the article 39A

• Kalpataru Projects International Ltd.) v. Vinod and Ors. Etc.
  2025 INSC 100419 August 2025Disposed of

  Issue arose as regards the landowners seeking further enhancement of compensation on account of damages suffered by erection of transmission lines and towers, whereas the Contractor challenging the amount of…

• Sanjeevkumar Harakchand Kankariya v. Union of India & Ors.
  [2024] 12 S.C.R. 86619 December 2024Dismissed

  Issue arose whether in view of the inconsistency between the Court Fees Act, 1870 and Maharashtra Court Fees Act, 1959, if any, would the appellant be entitled to a complete refund of court fees per the former, since it…

• Ashok v. State of Uttar Pradesh
  2024 INSC 9192 December 2024Allowed

  Matter pertains to the correctness of the order of conviction and sentence against the appellant, for the offences punishable u/ss.376, 302, 201 IPC as also SC and ST Act 1989; and as regards the role of the Public…

• involved and in I.R. Coelho v. State of T.N. [(1999) 7
  2024 INSC 8355 November 2024Reference answered

  (1) Whether Article 31C (as upheld in Kesavananda Bharati case) survives in the Constitution after amendment to the provision by the forty-second amendment was struck down by the Supreme Court in Minerva Mills case; and…

• Suhas Chakma v. Union of India & Ors.
  2024 INSC 81323 October 2024Directions issued

  Access to free and timely legal aid for prison inmates.

• Alifiya Husenbhai Keshariya v. Siddiq Ismail Sindhi & Ors.
  2024 INSC 45727 May 2024Appeal(s) allowed

  Whether a person being an award holder, of monetary compensation without actual receipt thereof, would be disentitled from filing an appeal seeking enhanced compensation as an indigent.

• Priya Indoria v. State of Karnataka and Ors.
  2023 INSC 100820 November 2023Disposed of

  Whether the power of the High Court or the Court of Session to grant anticipatory bail u/s 438 CrPC could be exercised with respect to an FIR registered outside the territorial jurisdict ion of the said Court; and…

• Kishan Chand Jain v. Union of India & Ors
  2023 INSC 9159 October 2023Disposed of

  The petitioner urges that the State Information Commissions should allow the option of virtual hearings along with physical hearings. Constitution of India – Art. 21 – Access to justice: Held: Access to justice is a…

• Sakshi Arha v. The Rajasthan High Court and
  2023 INSC 55918 May 2023Matter referred to larger bench
• Anil Agarwal Foundation Etc. Etc. v. State of
  2023 INSC 36112 April 2023Dismissed
• Sidram v. The Divisional Manager, United India Insurance Co. Ltd. and Anr.
  2022 INSC 120416 November 2022Appeal(s) allowed
• Janhit Abhiyan v. Union of India
  2022 INSC 11757 November 2022Disposed of
• Ramanand @ Nandlal Bharti v. State of Uttar Pradesh
  2022 INSC 107513 October 2022Appeal(s) allowed
• Satyajit Kumar & Ors. v. The State of Jharkhand & Ors.
  2022 INSC 7852 August 2022Partly allowed
• Mohd. Firoz v. State of Madhya Pradesh
  2022 INSC 42919 April 2022Appeal(s) allowed
• Reepak Kansal v. Union of India and Others
  2021 INSC 31830 June 2021Disposed of
• Anokhilal v. State of Madhya Pradesh
  2019 INSC 139918 December 2019Disposed of
• State of Bihar & Ors. v. The Bihar Secondary Teachers Struggle Committee, Munger & Ors.
  2019 INSC 68010 May 2019Appeal(s) allowed
• All India Judges Association & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors.
  2018 INSC 6712 August 2018Directions issued
• Common Cause (A Regd. Society) v. Union of India & Another
  2018 INSC 2239 March 2018Disposed of
• B. Sunitha v. The State of Telengana & Anr.
  2017 INSC 11755 December 2017Disposed of
• Santhini v. Vijaya Venketesh
  2017 INSC 10239 October 2017Reference answered
• M/S. Meters and Instruments Private Limited & Anr. v. Kanchan Mehta
  2017 INSC 10095 October 2017Disposed of
• State of Punjab & Ors. v. The Senior Vocational Staff Masters Association
  2017 INSC 76918 August 2017Dismissed
• Krishna Veni Nagam v. Harish Nagam
  2017 INSC 2249 March 2017Disposed of
• National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors.
  2016 INSC 114015 December 2016Disposed of
• Cardamom Marketing Corporation and Anr. v. State of Kerala & Ors.
  2016 INSC 8441 September 2016Dismissed
• Anita Kushwaha v. Pushap Sudan
  2016 INSC 118619 July 2016Directions issued
• Swaraj Abhiyan - (I) v. Union of India & Ors.
  2016 INSC 41111 May 2016Directions issued
• Supreme Court Advocates-On-Record Association and Another v. Union of India
  2015 INSC 28516 October 2015
• Jakir Hussein v. Sabir & Ors.
  2015 INSC 13518 February 2015Appeal(s) allowed
• Charu Khurana & Others v. Union of India & Others
  2014 INSC 102410 November 2014Hearing Adjourned
• Madhya Pradesh State Legal Services Authority v. Prateek Jain & Anr.
  2014 INSC 62110 September 2014Disposed of
• Gaurav Kumar Bansal v. Union of India & Ors.
  2014 INSC 6159 September 2014Disposed of
• State of Punjab & Ors. v. Rafiq Masih (White Washer)
  2014 INSC 4798 July 2014
• Manoharan v. Sivarajan & Ors.
  2013 INSC 78125 November 2013Appeal(s) allowed
• Threesiamma Jacob & Ors. v. Geologist, Dpti. of Mining & Geology & Ors.
  2013 INSC 4478 July 2013Disposed of
• Mohd. Hussain @ Julfikar Ali v. The State (Govt. of Nct) Delhi
  2012 INSC 36631 August 2012Reference answered
• Mohammed Ajmal Mohammad Amir Kasab @ Abu Mujahid v. State of Maharashtra
  2012 INSC 35729 August 2012Dismissed
• Rajoo @ Ramakant v. State of Madhya Pradesh
  2012 INSC 3279 August 2012Remitted to Lower Court
• Bar Council of India v. Union of India
  2012 INSC 3143 August 2012Dismissed
• New India Assurance Co. Ltd. v. Gopali & Ors.
  2012 INSC 2715 July 2012Dismissed
• Brij Mohan Lal v. Union of India & Ors.
  2012 INSC 17819 April 2012Partly allowed
• Mohd. Hussain @ Julfikar Ali v. The State (Govt. of Nct) Delhi
  2012 INSC 1611 January 2012Matter referred to larger bench
• K.N. Govindan Kutty Menon v. C.D. Shaji
  2011 INSC 82428 November 2011Appeal(s) allowed
• C. Venkatachalam v. Ajitkumar C. Shah and Others
  2011 INSC 61829 August 2011Dismissed
• Delhi Jal Board v. National Campaign for Dignity and Rights of Sewerage and Allied Workers & Others
  2011 INSC 48612 July 2011Dismissed
• State of Punjab & Anr. v. Surjit Singh & Ors.
  2009 INSC 10104 August 2009Disposed of
• A. Manjula Bhashini & Others v. The Managing Director, Ap. Womens Cooperative Finance Corporation Ltd. and Another,
  2009 INSC 8656 July 2009Disposed of
• Food Corp. of India & Ors. v. Ashis Kumar Ganguly & Ors.
  2009 INSC 79912 May 2009Dismissed
• Supreme Court Bar Association v. Union of India and Ors.
  2007 INSC 42313 April 2007Allowed
• Brij Mohan Lal v. Union of India and Ors.
  2002 INSC 2616 May 2002Disposed of
• P. Rama Chandra Rao v. State of Karnataka
  2002 INSC 20316 April 2002Appeal(s) allowed
• Ahmedabad Women Action Group and Ors. Etc. v. Union of India
  1997 INSC 18524 February 1997Dismissed
• Chattar Singh and Ors. v. State of Rajasthan and Ors.
  1996 INSC 110324 September 1996Disposed of
• M/S. Gujarat Machinery Manufacturers Ltd. v. Collector, Central Excise, Baroda.
  1996 INSC 103911 September 1996Appeal(s) allowed
• Government of Andhra Pradesh and Anr. v. M. Pandurang and Ors.
  1995 INSC 75820 November 1995Appeal(s) allowed
• State of Maharashtra v. Manubhai Pragaji Vashi and Ors.
  1995 INSC 46316 August 1995Dismissed
• LIC of India and Anr. v. Consumer Education and Research Centre and Ors. Etc.
  1995 INSC 36710 May 1995Dismissed
• State of U.P. and Ors. Etc. Etc. v. Pradhan Sangh Kshetira Samiti and Ors. Etc. Etc.
  1995 INSC 21024 March 1995Appeal(s) allowed
• Consumer Education and Research Centre and Ors. v. Union of India and Ors.
  1995 INSC 7627 January 1995Allowed
• Supreme Court Advocates-On-Record Association and Anr. v. Union of India
  1993 INSC 3186 October 1993Disposed of
• Bhuwneshwar Singh v. Union of India and Ors.
  1993 INSC 2801 September 1993Dismissed
• Kishore Chand v. State of Himachal Pradesh
  1990 INSC 26029 August 1990Appeal(s) allowed
• Charan Lal Sahu Etc. Etc. v. Union of India and Ors.
  1989 INSC 39522 December 1989Disposed of
• Ranjan Dwivedi v. Union of India
  1983 INSC 4926 April 1983Dismissed
• Sheela Barse v. State of Maharashtra
  1983 INSC 915 February 1983Disposed of
• Gujarat Steel Tubes Ltd. v. Gujarat Steel Tubes Mazdoor Sabha
  1979 INSC 24419 November 1979Dismissed
• V. C Rangadurai v. D. Gopalan and Ors.
  1978 INSC 1944 October 1978Dismissed
• Madray Hayawadanrao Hoskot v. State of Maharashtra
  1978 INSC 13717 August 1978Dismissed