Indian Political Compass

Constitutional Amendment · In force

1st Amendment (1951)

Added restrictions on free speech for public order and amended Articles 15 and 19 to allow special provisions for backward classes and land reform laws.

Why it was passed

The Supreme Court had struck down several land reform laws and press restrictions. The amendment insulated these laws from judicial review by adding them to the Ninth Schedule.

Key changes

  • Added grounds of public order, friendly relations with foreign states, and incitement to an offence to permissible restrictions on free speech under Article 19(2)
  • Inserted Article 15(4) to allow special provisions for socially and educationally backward classes
  • Added Articles 31A and 31B to protect land reform laws; created the Ninth Schedule

Controversy and legal challenges

Critics argued the amendment was rushed through a lame-duck provisional parliament before the first general elections and that inserting laws into the Ninth Schedule made them immune from fundamental rights challenges — a concern later validated in I.R. Coelho v. State of Tamil Nadu (2007).

Related articles

Article 15Prohibition of Discrimination
→
Article 19Freedom of Speech and Expression
→

Content is editorial draft pending fact-check against official Gazette notifications and Supreme Court judgment texts. Last reviewed: 2026-07-02.

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