The Supreme Court on Tuesday (April 23) commenced the hearing of the 9-judge constitution bench which is set to examine whether material resources of the community includes privately owned resources.
The court has set out to decide whether the words material resources of the community used in Article 39 (b) of the Constitution also includes private property. This debate has spanned decades and has been interpreted differently by several courts of law. Once the SC answers this question, the definition will be important for any debate on wealth redistribution.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday said the Constitution intended to bring about a sense of social transformation and it would be dangerous to say that the private property of an individual cannot be regarded as material resources of community and taken over by state authorities to subserve common good .
The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it would be "dangerous" to say that the private property of an individual cannot be regarded as material resources of community and taken over by state authorities to subserve "common good".