Bench

Bench is a long seat, a furniture, for several people to sit on. It is typically made of wood or stone. It is also a long sturdy work table for a carpenter, mechanic, scientist, or other worker to work at. A specified seat in Parliament is also called a bench, such as opposition benches. We have also the bench in sports for coaches and players to sit on during a game when they are not playing. Bench is also a flat ledge in masonry or on sloping ground.

The office of judge, or the composition of judges sitting to hear a matter in court, is also called a bench. Bench is also an additional seat of a court, such as Ranchi bench of Patna High Court.

In the High Court, judges can sit singly, in division benches of two judges or in full benches of three or more judges.

In the Supreme Court of India, the vacation judge or judge in chambers may sit singly; division benches comprise two or three judges; constitution benches five or more judges. The largest bench constituted in the Supreme Court has been of thirteen judges for the Kesavananda Bharati case in 1973. One or more judges in a case may give judgement, but it is the majority opinion that is the judgement of the Court. A smaller bench is bound by the judgement of a larger bench; the judgement of a bench can only be overruled by the judgement of a larger bench.

Nearby pages
Bench Mark, Bench press, Bench run, Bench seat, Bench Terraces, Bench test