When is a High Court Judgment Binding Across India?

A High Court judgment on a Central Act becomes binding across India if it strikes down a provision or when the Supreme Court dismisses an appeal against it on merits.

Under the "Doctrine of Merger," once the apex court upholds a High Court’s interpretation through a reasoned order, that interpretation merges into the Supreme Court's mandate, becoming binding nationwide under Article 141.

However, if the Supreme Court dismisses a Special Leave Petition (SLP) via a summary, non-speaking order, it merely means the court declined to interfere.

In such cases, the High Court ruling remains binding only within its territorial jurisdiction and carries mere persuasive value for other states.