Writ of prohibition cannot stop a statutory appellate authority from exercising lawful quasi-judicial powers or transferring pending matters.

A writ of prohibition cannot be issued to stop a statutory appellate authority from performing lawful quasi-judicial functions unless it acts without jurisdiction, in breach of natural justice, under an unconstitutional law, or in violation of fundamental rights. The High Court's wide writ jurisdiction under article 226 does not extend to disabling a statutory authority from deciding pending appeals or transferring those matters to another forum merely because of external pressure. The writ petition seeking such relief was therefore not maintainable, and the appellate authority was entitled to continue exercising its statutory powers.

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Issues: Whether the High Court could, in exercise of writ jurisdiction, prohibit a statutory appellate authority from discharging its quasi-judicial functions and direct transfer of pending matters to another authority, and whether the writ petition seeking such relief was maintainable.

Analysis: The appellate authority under section 9 of the Uttar Pradesh Sales Tax Act, 1948 functioned within a complete statutory scheme governing appeal, disposal and further remedy. A writ of prohibition lies only where the inferior court or authority acts without or in excess of jurisdiction, in breach of natural justice, under an unconstitutional law, or in violation of fundamental rights. None of those conditions was present. The power of judicial review under article 226 is wide, but it does not authorise the High Court to disable a statutory authority from performing its lawful duties or to transfer those duties to another forum merely because pressure is brought to bear by a section of the Bar.

Conclusion: The High Court had no power to restrain the statutory appellate authority from exercising its functions or to order transfer of the pending cases, and the writ petition was not maintainable.

Ratio Decidendi: A writ of prohibition cannot be used to prevent a statutory authority from discharging lawful statutory functions unless the authority is acting without jurisdiction, in violation of natural justice, under an unconstitutional law, or in breach of fundamental rights.

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