The central tenets of India’s polity are based on the principles of constitutional democracy, constitutional supremacy and constitutional morality.2 In line with these, the Indian Constitution creates the three important pillars of the state – the legislature, executive and the judiciary – and incorporates a system of checks and balances requiring all three to work in harmony within their allotted spheres of authority. At the time of its independence, India was predominantly a pluralistic, caste-based, closed, hierarchical and feudalistic society, plagued by diverse clashing interests. The Constitution was criticized for failing to respond to India’s unique situation.3 Though there were doubts whether India’s political soil was fertile enough for democracy to flourish, its judges have worked to create a living and dynamic Constitution that has provided legal succour to millions. More than the legislature or executive, it is often the judiciary that upholds individual equality and dignity and, thereby, is creating a more egalitarian pluralistic society.4 As well, despite several setbacks, the judiciary stabilized democracy and enabled its institutions to flourish in India, the world’s largest democracy. The courts have used their power of review to blend common law legal traditions with modern and Western constitutional precepts and India’s ancient and medieval legal values – all grounded on the overarching juristic concept of Dharma.5 The emergent product is a common law legal tradition that is uniquely ‘Indian’ in character.