 In a sharply divided verdict, by a margin of 7-6, the court held that while the Parliament has "wide" powers, it did not have the power to destroy or emasculate the basic elements or fundamental features of the constitution.Although the court upheld the basic structure doctrine by a narrow margin, it has since gained widespread acceptance and legitimacy due to subsequent cases and judgments.Primary among these was the imposition of the state of emergency by Indira Gandhi in 1975, and the subsequent attempt to suppress her prosecution through the 39th Amendment.