One of the central features upon which India’s legal system relies is Article 141 of Indian constitution. It illustrates just how essential the Supreme Court’s decisions are to addressing justice and adhering to the law. In this article, the relevant provisions in Article 141, the consequences therefrom, and also these are the essence of the Indian Legal System will be discussed.
What is Article 141 of Indian Constitution?
“The law declared by the Supreme Court shall be binding on all courts within the territory of India,” according to Article 141. The judicial precedent principle is established by this clause, which means that all lower courts must abide by the Supreme Court’s rulings.
Article 141 of the COI
- When our Constitution went into effect following independence, Article 141 was put into effect, which improved the standing of court decisions in the Indian legal system.
- As per Article 141, it shall be complete law and the same has to be followed by all courts in India.
- The law stated or declared must be interpreted as a legal principle deduced from an opinion of the Supreme Court on the application/interpretation of the law which is the basis for passing such an order in the case.
- Article 141 makes no exception or qualification that allows the Supreme Court to say something SHOULD NOT be treated as an adversarial precedent.
- After a ruling is rendered, the Supreme Court’s involvement comes to an end, and Article 141 takes over.
- A Supreme Court ruling is not legally binding in its entirety.
- Only the ratio decidendi portion of the ruling is legally binding and will be taken into account when making decisions on legal matters involving the same issues and facts.
- Among the exceptions to this rule of law of precedents are legislative provisions, obiter dictum, per-incuriam judgments, and sub silentio.
Case Laws
- The Supreme Court ruled in Mohd. Ahmed Khan v. Shah Bano Begum (1985) that religious text interpretation is a legally binding precedent.
- Supreme Court in the State of U.P. v. Synthesis & Chemicals Ltd., (1991) held that a decision that is bereft of reasons or does not consider points cannot be considered as ratio decidendi law declared by the Supreme Court having a binding force under Article 141 COI.
- The Supreme Court ruled in Suganthi Suresh Kumar v. Jagadeesan (2002) that the High Court could not overturn the Supreme Court’s ruling simply because it established principles without taking into account any legal considerations.
- The Supreme Court ruled in Pandurang Kalu Patil v. State of Maharashtra (2002) that the High Court’s rulings would stand until the Supreme Court overturned them.
- The Supreme Court advanced the extension of the authority granted by Article 141 of the COI in the case of Paramjit Kaur v. State of Punjab (2021).
Significance of Article 141
- Ensures Uniformity in Law: Article 141 enhances the legitimacy and authority of the Supreme Court. As it is the top court of India, whatever decisions taken by this Court ensured that rule of law will be kept and respected. It is on this authority that the judiciary’s role to safeguard fundamental rights and protect the Constitution hinges.
- Enhances the Authority of the Supreme Court: The Supreme Court’s legitimacy and authority are increased by Article 141. Since it is India’s highest court, its decisions are taken seriously and guarantee that the rule of law is respected. The judiciary’s function as the protector of fundamental rights and the defender of the Constitution depends on this authority.
- Promotes Access to Justice: Article 141 facilitates access to justice by guaranteeing that the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the law is applied consistently. Regardless of the court where they are filed, it gives litigants the guarantee that similar cases will be handled similarly.
Impact on Judicial Precedent
The concept of judicial precedent is a lynchpin in the Indian legal system and stands cursory to Article 141. Judicial doctrine applied to other cases is an example of precedent. It ensures that justice is predictable, fair, and equally meted out. The binding nature of the decisions by the Supreme Court gives strength to the system of judicial precedent (under Article 141). Those judgments by the Supreme Court must be obeyed among the lower courts, creating an order of preference and ensuring uniformity in enforcement.
The doctrine of precedent is, of course, more complicated than that. As previously stated, the Supreme Court has the authority to overturn previous decisions. This adaptability allows the Court to make amends for past mistakes, respond to changing social dynamics, and administer justice as needed.
Conclusion
The Article 141 of Indian constitution is essential in forming the legal system of the nation. It guarantees uniformity, strengthens the Supreme Court’s authority, and encourages fair access to justice by requiring that the rulings of the Supreme Court be binding on all lower courts. This strengthens the judicial precedent principle, which is crucial for an equitable legal system.
