John Vallamattom & Anr vs Union Of India

The Supreme Court addressed the discriminatory treatment of Christians under the Indian Succession Act, 1925, particularly Section 118, which imposes stringent conditions on bequests for religious and charitable purposes. The Court held that these provisions violate Articles 14, 25, and 26 of the Constitution, as they unjustly restrict the ability of Christians to bequeath property for charitable use, unlike members of other communities. The judgment emphasized the need for equality in testamentary dispositions, declaring the impugned provisions arbitrary and unconstitutional.