What is the difference between ratio decidendi and obiter dicta?

• A. Ratio decidendi is binding; obiter dicta are non-binding but persuasive.
• B. Ratio decidendi is non-binding; obiter dicta binding.
• C. Both are binding in all circumstances.
• D. Obiter dicta describe the procedural steps.

Answer: (A)

The essential idea is that the part of a court’s decision that directly resolves the dispute—the legal rule or principle it relies on—constitutes the ratio decidendi. This is binding on future cases because it expresses the rule that decides the outcome. Obiter dicta are the judge’s extra comments or observations made in passing, not needed to reach the decision. They’re not binding, but they can be persuasive and may influence later cases.

So, the statement that ratio decidendi is binding while obiter dicta are non-binding but persuasive best captures the difference. The other options mix up which parts are binding and mischaracterize obiter dicta as describing procedural steps.