“Parliament’s power to amend the Constitution is a limited power and it cannot be enlarged into absolute power.” In the light of this statement explain whether Parliament under Article 368 of the Constitution can destroy the Basic Structure of the Constitution by expanding its amending power?

Article 368 vests Parliament with constituent power to amend the Constitution by way of addition, variation or repeal. Whether that power is unlimited was the central question of India's longest constitutional battle.

Evolution of the doctrine

• Shankari Prasad (1951) and Sajjan Singh (1965): constitutional amendments are not 'law' under Article 13, so even Fundamental Rights could be amended.
• Golak Nath (1967) reversed course, placing Fundamental Rights beyond Parliament's reach; Parliament responded with the 24th Amendment (1971) reasserting its power.
• Kesavananda Bharati (1973): a thirteen-judge Bench upheld the 24th Amendment but held that Parliament cannot alter the 'basic structure' — the identity of the Constitution.

Can Parliament enlarge Article 368 into absolute power?

• Indira Nehru Gandhi v. Raj Narain (1975): clause (4) of Article 329A, inserted to immunise the Prime Minister's election from challenge, was struck down for destroying free and fair elections and judicial review.
• The 42nd Amendment (1976) inserted clauses (4) and (5) into Article 368, barring judicial review of amendments and declaring the amending power free of any limitation.
• Minerva Mills (1980) struck down both clauses, holding that the limited amending power is itself a basic feature: the donee of a limited power cannot use it to convert that power into an unlimited one.
• Waman Rao (1981) settled that the doctrine applies to amendments made after 24 April 1973, and the NJAC verdict (2015) showed it remains a living check, protecting judicial independence.

Parliament's amending power is thus a derivative constituent power held in trust. It can reshape the Constitution to meet new needs — but it cannot use Article 368 to destroy the framework of supremacy of the Constitution, judicial review, federalism, secularism and free elections from which that very power flows.