Supreme Court Reiterates: Writ Petitions u/s 226 Not Maintainable When Effective Alternative Remedies Exist

The Supreme Court has ruled that writ petitions under Article 226 should not normally be entertained when alternative remedies are available through a High Court's own statutory or appellate framework. 

The bench stressed that litigants must first pursue the remedies provided under the relevant law instead of directly invoking writ jurisdiction.

The Court explained that Article 226 is meant for exceptional situations where statutory relief is inadequate or unavailable, not as a substitute for regular appellate procedures.

[Rikhab Chand Jain v Union of India & Ors.]