Doctrine of Binding Precedent

The Doctrine of Binding Precedent is a legal principle where courts follow previous decisions (precedents) made by higher courts in similar cases. This ensures consistency and stability in the law. When a court encounters a case with facts similar to an earlier ruling, it is obliged to follow that earlier decision if it falls within the same legal framework. This means lower courts are bound by higher courts’ past judgments, promoting fairness and predictability in legal outcomes.