Division Bench Sets Aside Directions Issued Beyond Scope of Original Writ Petition
In a significant decision, the Rajasthan High Court's Division Bench at Jaipur has set aside orders passed by a Single Judge that exceeded the jurisdictional limits of a writ petition. The case, titled "Upendra Singh Jadoun v. State of Rajasthan," involved the appellant challenging two orders dated April 24 and April 29, 2025, which were deemed to have treated the writ petition as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) without it being filed as such.
The Division Bench, comprising Justices Inderjeet Singh and Ravi Chirania, delivered the judgment on February 23, 2026. The appellate court found that the Single Judge had issued directions that traveled beyond the scope of the original prayers made in the writ petition. The appellant argued that the Single Judge assumed jurisdiction in a manner more appropriate for a PIL, issuing orders that included the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) and issuance of a bailable warrant, contravening Supreme Court precedents.
The appeal was supported by references to notable Supreme Court judgments, including "M. Subramaniam v. S. Janaki" and "Akella Lalitha v. Konda Hanumantha Rao," which underscore the limitations of judicial intervention in matters not filed as PILs.
The Division Bench had previously stayed the implementation of the Single Judge’s orders, recognizing the potential overreach. Upon reviewing the case, the appellate court confirmed that the Single Judge exceeded jurisdiction and set aside the impugned orders, concluding that the directions issued were beyond the writ petition's scope.
The decision underscores the judiciary's role in maintaining procedural propriety and jurisdictional boundaries, ensuring that judicial interventions are aligned with the nature and scope of filed petitions.
Bottom Line:
Writ Petition - Single Judge exceeding jurisdiction by treating matter as PIL and issuing directions beyond the scope of prayers made in the writ petition - Orders passed by Single Judge set aside.
Statutory provision(s): None specified in the judgment.
