The Case that Shook India : The Verdict That Led to the Emergency

On 12 June 1975, for the first time in independent India's history, the election of a prime minister was set aside by a high court judgment. The watershed case, Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain, acted as the catalyst for the imposition of the Emergency. Based on detailed notes of the court proceedings, The Case That Shook India is both a significant legal and a historical document. The author, advocate Prashant Bhushan, provides a blow-by-blow account of the goings-on inside the courtroom as well as the manoeuvrings outside it, including threats, bribes and deceit. As the case goes to the Supreme Court, we see how a ruling government can misuse legislative power to save the PM's election. Through his forceful and gripping narrative, Bhushan vividly recreates the legal drama that decisively shaped India's political destiny. 'Not just of historical interest . . . many of these issues are back in focus today' Mint 'An invaluable historical document . . . being re-issued when new questions are being asked about the independence of the judiciary from the PMO' Caravan 'Of general interest [with] contemporary resonances' India Today 'Bhushan reminds the public about how a democracy can go wrong, so that we remain vigilant' Hans India On 12 June 1975, for the first time in independent India's history, the election of a prime minister was declared void by a high court judgment. While the watershed case, Indira Gandhi vs Raj Narain, proved the strength of India's democratic institutions, it also acted as the catalyst for the imposition of the Emergency. Based on detailed notes of the court proceedings, The Case That Shook India is both a legal and a historical document of a case that decisively shaped India's political destiny.The author, advocate Prashant Bhushan, sets out to reveal the goings-on inside the courtroom as well as the manoeuvrings outside it, including threats, bribes and deceit. Providing a blow-by-blow account, he vividly recreates courtroom scenes, where the arguments are by turns scathing, colourful and downright shocking. As the case unfolds, we see how the ruling government can misuse legislative power, government resources and political funding. The book also includes the Supreme Court proceedings, which went unreported in the media due to censorship and throw light on the constitutional amendments that were enacted.In Bhushan's forceful and gripping narrative, the experience is of having a frontrow seat to watch one of the most important cases in India's legal history play out before one's eyes On 12 June 1975, for the first time in independent India s history, the election of a prime minister was declared void by a high court judgment. While the watershed case, Indira Gandhi vs Raj Narain, proved the strength of India s democratic institutions, it also acted as the catalyst for the imposition of the Emergency. Based on detailed notes of the court proceedings, The Case That Shook India is both a legal and a historical document of a case that decisively shaped India s political destiny. Providing a blow-by-blow account, the author, advocate Prashant Bhushan, vividly recreates courtroom scenes, where the arguments are by turns scathing, colourful and downright shocking. As the case unfolds, we see how the ruling government can misuse legislative power, government resources and political funding. The book also includes the Supreme Court proceedings, which went unreported in the media due to censorship and throw light on the constitutional amendments that were enacted. In Bhushan s forceful and gripping narrative, the experience is of having a front row seat to watch one of the most important cases in India s legal history play out before one s eyes. Sensational trial of the election petition, filed by Raj Narain to challenge the election of Indira Nehru Gandhi in the 1971 parliamentary election at the Allahabad High Court, and the consequent Supreme Court appeals.