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Supreme Court Of India

Hon'ble Judge(s): M. Y. Eqbal, R. Banumathi , JJ

(A) Constitution of India , Art.14— Equality Clause - Does not forbid reasonable classification - Classification to be reasonable should be based on intelligible differentia and must have nexus with object to be achieved. While Article 14 forbids class legislation, it does not forbid reasonable classification of persons, objects, and transactions by the legislature for the purpose of achieving specific ends. But classification must not be 'arbitrary, artificial or evasive'. It must always rest upon some real and substantial distinction bearing a just and reasonable relation to the object sought to be achieved by the legislation. Classification to be reasonable must fulfil the following two conditions :- Firstly, the classification must be founded on the intelligible differentia which distinguishes persons or things that are grouped together from others left out of the group. Secondly, the differentia must have a rational relation to the object sought to be achieved by the Act. The differentia which is the basis of the classification and the object of the Act are two distinct things. What is necessary is that there must be nexus between the basis of classification and the object of the Act. It is only when there is no reasonable basis for a classification that legislation making such classification may be declared discriminatory.(Para 22) ....