Today in Sita Soren vs Union Of India 2024 INSC 161, the court held:
⭐The doctrine of stare decisis provides that the Court should not lightly dissent from precedent.
⭐But this Doctrine is not an inflexible rule of law, and it cannot result in perpetuating an error to the detriment of the general welfare of the public.
⭐A larger bench may reconsider a previous decision in appropriate cases, bearing in mind the tests which have been formulated in the precedents.
⭐A decision delivered by a Bench of larger strength is binding on any subsequent Bench of lesser or coequal strength. A Bench of lesser strength cannot disagree with or dissent from the view of the law taken by the bench of larger strength. However, a bench of the same strength can question the correctness of a decision rendered by a co-ordinate bench. In such situations, the case is placed before a bench of larger strength.