Supreme Court Flags Growing Trend of Succeeding Benches Reversing Previously Decided Cases

The article outlines the Supreme Court’s critique of a rising pattern where coordinate benches overturn prior decisions without compelling justification — a trend the Court described as “painful.” The Court highlighted that excessive bench-to-bench reversals erode predictability, destabilize legal certainty, and undermine the doctrine of precedent. It cautioned that unless there is demonstrable error, new benches should refrain from overruling prior rulings lightly; instead, contentious issues should be referred to larger benches. The judgment reflects institutional concern over doctrinal instability and stresses greater judicial discipline for preserving legal continuity.