RAS question
Article 141 states that the law declared by the Supreme Court shall be binding on:
Correct answer: (A) All courts within the territory of India.
Under Article 141, the law declared by the Supreme Court is binding on all courts within the territory of India.
Explanation
Article 141 gives binding force to the law declared by the Supreme Court across the Indian court system. The official Constitution text states that such law "shall be binding on all courts within the territory of India", so the scope is not limited to one level of court. This is why option A is the only complete answer: it covers every court within India. The point also connects with the Supreme Court's role as the final interpreter of the Constitution and law, because its declared law guides the courts below it rather than operating as advice for a few selected forums.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Article 141 does not confine the Supreme Court's declared law to the Supreme Court itself; it makes that law binding on all courts within India.
- (C) High Courts are included, but Article 141 is wider because it covers all courts within the territory of India, not only High Courts.
- (D) Subordinate courts are included, but the binding force is not limited to them because Article 141 also covers all other courts within India.
Concept
This tests the constitutional position of the Supreme Court and the binding force of its declared law under Article 141. It recurs in RAS because it checks whether aspirants understand judicial hierarchy, not just article numbers.