NEW DELHI — In a significant verdict, the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed pleas challenging the 1976 amendment to the Constitution adding terms “socialist”, “secular” and “integrity” to the Preamble. The words “socialist”, “secular” and “integrity” were inserted into the Preamble to the Constitution under the 42nd constitutional amendment moved by the Indira Gandhi government in 1976. A bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar had on November 22 reserved its verdict on the pleas filed by former Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy and advocate Ashwini Updhayay challenging the inclusion of the words “socialist” and “secular” in the Preamble to the Constitution. Also read: Sale certificate issued in pursuance to a court’s auction not required to be stamped: SC One of the first petitions was filed by one Balram Singh through advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain in 2020. “The writ petitions do not need further deliberation and adjudication. The amending power of Parliament over the Constitution extends to Preamble,” the CJI said while pronouncing the verdict. The CJI said the verdict explained that after so many years the process cannot be so nullified. The date of the adoption of the Constitution would not curtail the government’s power under...