Reading judgments efficiently is a core skill. Start with the headnote and the concluding paragraphs to grasp the outcome, then work backwards.
## Identify the ratio decidendi The ratio is the legal principle necessary to the decision — it binds lower courts. Everything else is obiter dictum.
## Note the bench strength A larger bench overrules a smaller one. A five-judge Constitution Bench decision carries more authority than a two-judge bench.
## Track the issues Most judgments frame issues explicitly. Map each conclusion back to its issue to build a clean case brief.