SC verdict on validity of Preamble modification in 1976 likely on 25 Nov

Refusing to refer the matter to a larger bench, the Supreme Court on Friday decided to pronounce its decision on November 25 over the validity of the 42nd Constitutional Amendment passed in 1976 to add the words "socialist" and "secular" in the Preamble.

- AGENCIES

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, which earlier said that a catena of apex court judgments has held that secularism was always a part of the basic structure, on Friday reserved its orders on a batch of petitions on the matter.

The 42nd Amendment changed the description of India from a "sovereign democratic republic" to a "sovereign, socialist secular democratic republic", and also changed the words "unity of the nation" to "unity and integrity of the nation".

The bench, which also included Justice Sanjay Kumar, stopped short of pronouncing the order during the day's hearing, refusing to send the matter to a larger bench for a decision on the issue.