Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria today rapped judges who believe they are not bound by the rulings of higher courts.

This, he said, is against the principle of stare decisis (following precedent) practised by the courts.

"To say you are not bound by the decisions of the higher court is not ethical.

"You may not agree with the rulings of the Court of Appeal or the Federal Court but you are bound by it," Arifin said at the 50th annual judges conference in Kuala Lumpur today.