Important Legal Definitions
Explore legal terms, clear definitions and practical examples.
Full Bench vs. Division Bench
Judicial Orders, Injunctions & Precedents
Definition
Division Bench: A judicial bench consisting of two judges.
Full Bench: A judicial bench consisting of three or more judges (often five judges, termed a Constitution Bench in the Supreme Court), convened to resolve conflicting rulings of Division Benches.
Example
When two Division Benches of the Allahabad High Court gave conflicting rulings on the calculation of pensionary benefits for ad-hoc teachers, the Chief Justice constituted a Full Bench of three judges to settle the conflict.