citation

A case citation gives the party names, the year, and either a law report (volume, reporter, page) or a neutral citation. Since 2023 the Supreme Court issues neutral citations in the form “year INSC number” (for example 1993 INSC 113), and many High Courts have adopted their own. A statute is cited by its short title, year and section.

In an exam answer, write the case name in italics with the court and year; an exact law-report reference is a bonus, a wrong case name costs marks. The word has a second, older meaning: a summons to appear, as in a citation issued to relatives in probate proceedings.

Example

Give the full citation the first time you use a case, for example Nilabati Behera v. State of Orissa, 1993 INSC 113, and the short name after that.

See also

law reports · precedent · ratio decidendi

Read more in the study notes

• Offences against the State (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita)
• Drafting a memorandum of understanding, petitions and PIL (Business Communications)
• Articles 15 and 16: protective discrimination and social justice (Constitutional Law I)
• Offences under the IT Act (Cyber Law)
• Forest conservation: the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 and the judicial approach (Environmental Law)
• Probate, letters of administration and succession certificates (Family Law II - Mohammedan Law)