13 February, 2016

PER INCURIAM DECISIONS

Per incuriam decisions do not have binding effect. Per incuriam decisions mean where the court has acted in ignorance of a previous decision of its own or of a court of coordinate jurisdiction or when the decision is given in ignorance of the terms of a statute or a rule having statutory force.
            Referring the Halsbury’s Laws of England, the Apex Court in State of Bihar Vs. Kalika Kuer alias Kalika Singh & others,  examined the circumstances in which a decision is said to have been rendered per incuriam as follows:

“A decision is given per incuriam when the court has acted in ignorance of a previous decision of its own or of a court of coordinate jurisdiction which covered the case before it, in which case it must decide which case to follow; or when it has acted in ignorance of House of Lords decision, in which case it must follow that decisions; or when the decision is given in ignorance of the terms of a statute or rule having statutory force.”

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