The Role of the Supreme Court in Protecting Constitutional Rights: An Evaluation of Recent Landmark Judgments.

DOI- https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23035628

Abstract

The Supreme Court is not just evaluated by pricy language or counting successful petitions but assessing its impact and importance. A judgement might recognize a significant right but leave its institutional ramifications undetermined; a procedurally narrow ruling may confer prompt and significant protection. This paper focuses on six selected decisions on marriage equality, electoral finance, safeguards while arresting, rights concerning climate, accessibility to the internet and menstruation and school health delivered between October 2023 and January 2026. It also looks at later orders or judgments, as necessary, to understand remedial development. The differentiation between doctrinal recognition, enforceable relief, and demonstrated implementation. The study shows that these selected cases reveal multiple types of constitutional protection: invalidation of law that is incompatible, insistence on participation through information, mandating compliance with procedure, removal of barriers to access, and direction to take continuing institutional action. Their shared evaluative query revolves around the Court's linkage of the right it recognizes to a rationalized and administratively understandable remedy. To assess either judicial action or inaction, it is necessary to examine that connection.

Keywords: Supreme Court of India; fundamental rights; constitutional remedies; judicial review; equality; implementation.