'STARE DECISIS' as a doctrine of legal reasoning means:

Question

Accepted Answer

C. let the decision stand — the principle of BINDING PRECEDENT: courts should follow earlier decisions of higher courts (and their own coordinate benches) on the same legal point, ensuring consistency

1. STARE DECISIS (Latin: 'let the decision stand') is the doctrine of BINDING PRECEDENT.
2. Vertically: lower courts must follow decisions of higher courts in the hierarchy.
3. Horizontally: courts generally follow their own coordinate-bench decisions for consistency (though not absolutely binding).
4. The doctrine of stare decisis ensures:
5. (i) PREDICTABILITY of law;
6. (ii) EQUALITY before the law;
7. (iii) JUDICIAL EFFICIENCY;
8. (iv) PUBLIC CONFIDENCE in the judiciary.
9. Indian constitutional position: Article 141 — 'The law declared by the Supreme Court shall be binding on all courts within the territory of India.'
10. Hence option B is correct.
_Source: Legal Research Methodology + Jurisprudence — Stare decisis doctrine_

Answer

always decide afresh (cf. Stare decisis doctrine) (cf. Stare decisis doctrine) (cf. Stare decisis doctrine) (cf. Stare decisis doctrine) (cf. Stare decisis doctrine)

Answer

decide based on equity only (cf. Stare decisis doctrine) (cf. Stare decisis doctrine) (cf. Stare decisis doctrine) (cf. Stare decisis doctrine) (cf. Stare decisis doctrine)

Answer

decide based on politics (cf. Stare decisis doctrine) (cf. Stare decisis doctrine) (cf. Stare decisis doctrine) (cf. Stare decisis doctrine) (cf. Stare decisis doctrine)