Question

Ratio decidendi of a case is which one of the following?

• A. The order of the court in the case
• B. The final decree passed by the court
• C. The underlying principle or legal reasons on which the result of the case depends
• D. The part of the judgment which has persuasive effect

Hint:

Identifying the ratio decidendi is an essential skill for legal practitioners when conducting legal research and applying precedents to current cases.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Concept: 'Ratio decidendi' is a Latin term meaning "the reason for the decision." It is the core legal principle or rule that forms the basis of a judicial decision and is binding on future cases.

Step 1: Differentiating Ratio from Obiter Dicta.
A judicial judgment consists of two main parts:
1.

Ratio decidendi: The binding legal principle that dictates the outcome.
2.

Obiter dicta: Comments or opinions expressed by the judge that are not strictly necessary for the decision, which may have persuasive value but are not legally binding.

Step 2: Analyzing the components of a judgment.
The 'order' or 'final decree' is the result, but it is not the ratio itself. The ratio is the reasoning, the logic, and the legal analysis that forced the court to arrive at that specific decree based on the facts provided.

Step 3: Conclusion.
Future courts are bound by the ratio decidendi because it represents the legal principle established by the court, distinguishing it from mere incidental remarks. equation Ratio Decidendi = Underlying legal principle for the decision equation center The underlying principle or legal reasons on which the result of the case depends center