Writ Jurisdiction : An Introduction

                         A good society is one which is based upon law and justice.But, at times,citizens face injustice.Well, Indian Constitution guarantees an individual the right to move supreme court under Article 32 of the constitution directly in case of any violation of a fundamental right and before the High Courts under Article 226 of the constitution of India.Both the Supreme Court and the High Courts can entertain the writs to enforce such rights.

                     

The Constitution of India broadly provides five kinds of prerogative writs. They are as follows :-

1) Habeas Corpus :- which means 'to have a body'. By issuing such a writ the court can require that a person who is a prisoner to be brought before it, to obtain knowledge of the reason why he has been detained and to set him free if three is no lawful justification for his detention. 

2) Mandamus :- The word mandamus means 'We Command'. It is a command which can be issued to any inferior court or to any public or quasi-public authority which has refused to perform its legal duty.It is a high prerogative writ of a most extensive remedial measure. 

3) Certiorari :- Certiorari is a writ or order issued from a superior court calling upon the record of a proceeding in an inferior court for review or commanding it to certify the cause, pending before it to end that justice may be done.

4) Quo Warranto :- Quo Warranto means 'by what authority'. It is a writ or order to any authority who occupies public office or liberty who is asked to show by what authority he claims to be a public office.

5) Prohibition :- Prohibition is an order issued by a higher court forbidding a lower court from a proceeding in a suit deemed to be beyond its jurisdiction. It is a remedy against the encroachment of jurisdiction.

 The fundamental rights are the basic value and are meant to protect the dignity of individuals and create conditions in which human beings can develop their personality to the fullest extent.In the absence of fundamental rights citizens moral and spiritual life will remain worthless and it can be the impediments to develop their potentialities. The Constitution of India guarantees adequate provisions to enforce the fundamental rights through various writs.Therefore, the writ jurisdiction is a judicial remedy available to all its citizens.