---
title: "A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras (1950) — Definition"
description: "A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras (1950) was India's first major ruling on fundamental rights, upholding preventive detention and shaping legal precedents."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/a-k-gopalan-case-1950"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- A.
- K.
- What was the core holding of A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras (1950)?
- How does A.K. Gopalan differ from Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978)?
- Why is Justice Fazl Ali's dissent significant?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

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In May 1950, Communist leader A.K. Gopalan challenged his detention under the Preventive Detention Act, 1950, before the Supreme Court of India, which upheld the law and read Article 21 narrowly.

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