Territorial jurisdiction in writ petitions requires a real, pleaded nexus with the cause of action; remote connections are insufficient.

Article 226(2) permits writ jurisdiction only where a pleaded and material part of the cause of action arises within the High Court's territory. On the facts stated, the petitioner-firm was based in Punjab, the impugned notice was issued from Punjab, and service was effected there; those facts did not create territorial jurisdiction in Rajasthan. A business connection with a Rajasthan entity, or the fact that the notice came from a common departmental file, was not an integral part of the cause of action. The departmental circular governing multiple notices also did not confer jurisdiction. The writ petition was therefore not maintainable before the Rajasthan High Court for want of territorial jurisdiction.

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Issues: Whether the writ petition was maintainable before the Rajasthan High Court on the basis that a part of the cause of action arose within its territorial jurisdiction.

Analysis: Article 226(2) permits exercise of writ jurisdiction only where the cause of action, wholly or in part, arises within the territorial limits of the High Court. The material facts pleaded showed that the petitioner-firm was located in Punjab, the impugned notice was issued from Punjab, and service was effected in Punjab. The mere fact that the petitioner had business dealings with a Rajasthan-based entity, or that the notice originated from a common departmental file, did not constitute an integral part of the cause of action. The principle that territorial jurisdiction must be founded on pleaded facts having a real nexus with the relief sought was applied. The departmental circular regarding adjudication of multiple notices did not create jurisdiction where none otherwise existed.

Conclusion: The writ petition was not maintainable before the Rajasthan High Court for want of territorial jurisdiction.

Ratio Decidendi: A High Court can entertain a writ petition only when a pleaded and material part of the cause of action arises within its territory, and neither a remote commercial connection nor a common departmental file by itself confers territorial jurisdiction.

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