Alternative remedy does not bar writ jurisdiction where vires and jurisdictional error are challenged, and merits must be examined.

Availability of an alternative statutory remedy does not by itself bar writ jurisdiction. Where the challenge includes the vires of a statutory provision, an alleged jurisdictional error, or issues the alternative forum cannot competently decide, the High Court should not decline relief solely on the ground of remedy availability. The statutory appellate or revisional authority is not an efficacious forum for constitutional validity questions, and the writ court ought to examine the matter on merits in such circumstances. The High Court was therefore not justified in refusing to entertain the writ petition, and the matter was required to be reconsidered on merits.

---

---

Issues: Whether the High Court was justified in dismissing the writ petition on the ground of availability of an alternative remedy, despite the challenge to the vires of the statutory provision and the allegation of jurisdictional error.

Analysis: The availability of an alternative remedy is not an absolute bar to the exercise of writ jurisdiction. Where a statutory authority cannot examine the constitutional validity of a provision, and where the challenge also raises questions of jurisdiction and legality of the impugned action, the remedy before the statutory appellate or revisional authority may not be efficacious. In such circumstances, the High Court ought to examine the matter on merits instead of declining relief solely on the ground of alternative remedy.

Conclusion: The High Court was not justified in refusing to entertain the writ petition on the ground of alternative remedy.

Final Conclusion: The writ petition was required to be heard on merits, and the matter was remitted for consideration by the High Court in accordance with law.

Ratio Decidendi: Availability of an alternative statutory remedy does not bar writ jurisdiction where the challenge includes vires of a provision, lack of jurisdiction, or violation of natural justice, and the alternative forum is not competent to decide those questions.

---