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Example
Case laws
Statutory link
Comparison table
Opposite / Related
Exam tip
Memory trick
Key takeaway
Ratio decidendi
| Literal meaning | The reason for the decision |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | RAH-tee-oh dih-sih-DEN-dye |
The legal principle on which a court decides a case. Only the ratio binds later courts.
Example
A court holds that a manufacturer owes a duty of care to the final consumer. That principle is the ratio of the case.
Case laws
- Quinn v. Leathem (1901), House of Lords: a case is an authority only for what it actually decides, not for what may be drawn from it by logic.
Statutory link
Article 141 of the Constitution of India makes the law declared by the Supreme Court binding.
Comparison table
| Basis | Ratio decidendi | Obiter dicta |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | The reason for the decision | A remark made in passing |
| Binding? | Yes, on lower courts | No, only persuasive |
| Needed for the decision? | Yes | No |
Exam tip
Asked as 'ratio decidendi vs obiter dicta'. Quote Quinn v. Leathem.
Memory trick
Ratio = reason that decides.
Key takeaway
Only the reason for the decision binds later courts.
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