Important Legal Definitions

Incidental observations, hypothetical illustrations, analogies, or remarks expressed by a judge in a judgment that are not essential to the determination of the legal issue; they carry persuasive weight but lack binding precedential force.

In State of Haryana v. Ranbir, the Supreme Court clarified that an obiter dictum is an observation on a topic not directly in issue, and while entitled to considerable respect, does not constitute a binding precedent under Article 141.