Statutory tribunal first recourse is mandatory before invoking writ jurisdiction for service grievances under Article 226.

Where a statute establishes a specially constituted Tribunal to address service grievances of government servants, the statutory forum must be approached first before invoking writ jurisdiction under Article 226. Writ relief remains available only after the Tribunal has been seized of the matter and a surviving grievance persists against its order. Mere completion of pleadings or administrative directions for early disposal do not permit bypassing the prescribed forum. The High Court was therefore not justified in entertaining the writ petition at that stage, and the matter ought to have been relegated to the Tribunal.

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Issues: Whether the respondent was required to first avail the statutory remedy before the specially constituted Tribunal before invoking writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India.

Analysis: Where a statute creates a special Tribunal to redress service grievances of Government servants, recourse to that statutory forum is the primary obligation. Writ jurisdiction remains available after the Tribunal has been approached and a grievance still survives against its order. Mere completion of pleadings or administrative directions for early disposal do not justify bypassing the statutory forum when the legislative scheme requires first resort to the Tribunal.

Conclusion: The respondent was bound to pursue the statutory remedy before the Tribunal first, and the High Court was not justified in entertaining the writ petition at that stage. The application to relegate the matter to the Tribunal ought to have been allowed.

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