Abstract

This doctoral research paper conducts a comparative analysis of judicial review across India, the United States, and the United Kingdom, examining how courts ensure governmental actions comply with constitutional limits. The study traces the historical evolution and constitutional foundations in each jurisdiction: India’s explicit constitutional provisions (Articles 13, 32, 131-136, 141- 143, 226-227), the US’s implicit framework derived from Articles III and VI through judicial interpretation, and the UK’s uncodified system rooted in parliamentary sovereignty. Key findings reveal distinct scopes: India’s basic structure doctrine enables review of legislative, executive, and constitutional amendments; US review covers legislation and executive acts but not constitutional amendments; UK review focuses primarily on secondary legislation and administrative actions. The research analyses judicial review’s impact on fundamental rights protection, constitutional governance, and tensions between judicial activism and restraint across different constitutional cultures. It proposes reforms to enhance judicial accountability while maintaining the balance between judicial independence and democratic legitimacy, demonstrating judicial review’s essential yet varied role in constitutional democracies across legal traditions.

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