Alternative statutory remedy bars writ interference where jurisdictional objections, including a SICA challenge, can be raised before the appellate forum.

Where a comprehensive statutory appellate remedy exists under the recovery legislation, the High Court will ordinarily decline to exercise writ jurisdiction under Article 226, even when the challenge is framed as a jurisdictional objection based on the SICA bar. The appellate forum was treated as competent to examine both the alleged lack of jurisdiction and the merits of the proceedings, and the rule of alternative remedy was applied with greater force in recovery of public dues. The writ petitions were therefore held not maintainable, and the parties were left to pursue the statutory appellate remedy.

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Issues: Whether writ jurisdiction under Article 226 could be invoked despite the statutory appellate remedy under the recovery legislation, on the ground that the Debt Recovery Tribunal lacked jurisdiction because of the bar under SICA.

Analysis: The availability of a statutory appeal under the recovery statute, together with the scheme of adjudication and recovery before the Tribunal and Appellate Tribunal, weighed against interference in writ jurisdiction. The Court noted that the appellate forum was competent to examine the plea that proceedings were barred by SICA and to consider both jurisdictional and merits-based objections. In matters involving recovery of public dues, the rule of alternate remedy applies with greater force, and writ jurisdiction is ordinarily not used to bypass the statutory machinery.

Conclusion: The writ petitions were not maintainable in view of the efficacious alternative remedy, and the challenge to the Tribunal's jurisdiction was left to be pursued before the appellate forum.

Ratio Decidendi: Where a comprehensive statutory appellate remedy exists, the High Court will ordinarily decline writ intervention even on a jurisdictional challenge, if the same objection can be effectively raised before the appellate authority.

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