Functus officio - Indian Laws - General

Term functus officio P. Ramanatha Aiyer s The Law Lexicon (1997 edition) defines the term functus officio as: A term applied to something which once has had a life and power, but which has become of no virtue whatsoever... One who has fulfilled his office or is out of office; an authority who has performed the act authorised so that the authority is exhausted Black s Law Dictionary (5th edition) defines the term as follows: Having fulfilled the function, discharged the office, or accomplished the purpose, and therefore of no further force or authority... an instrument, power, agency, etc. which has fulfilled the purpose of its creation, and is therefore of no further virtue or effect. The doctrine of functus officio gives effect to the principle of finality. Once a judge or a quasi-judicial authority has rendered a decision, it is not open to her to revisit the decision and amend, correct, clarify, or reverse it (except in the exercise of the power of review, conferred by law ). Once a judicial or quasi-judicial decision attains finality, it is subject to change only in proceedings before the appellate court. ORISSA ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL BAR ASSOCIATION VERSUS UNION OF INDIA (UOI) AND ORS.- 2023 (3) TMI 1490 - SUPREME COURT