Abuse of law denial of right to information

The High Court has no power under Art. 226 of the Constitu- tion to issue a writ of certiorari in order to quash an error of fact, even though it may be apparent on the face of the record. It can do so only where the error is one of law and that is apparent on the face of the record. Any error of law or fact which it can correct as a court of appeal or revision cannot be a ground for the exercise of its power under that Article.

Hari Vishnu Kamath v. Syed Ahmed Ishaque and others, [1955] I S.C.R. 1104, relied on.

Queen v. James Bolton, (1841) (1) Queen's Bench 66, King v. Nat Bell Liquors, Limited, [1922] 2 A.C. 128, Rex v. Northumberland Compensation Appeal Tribunal, (1951) 1 K.B. 711 and Rex v. Northumberland Compensation Appeal Tribunal, (1952) 1 K.B. 338, referred to.

The jurisdiction of the High Court under Art. 226 of the Constitution is limited to seeing that the judicial or quasi-judicial tribunals or administrative bodies exercising quasi-judicial powers, do not exceed their statutory jurisdiction and correctly administer the law laid down by the statute under which they act. So long as the hierarchy of officers and Appellate authorities created by a statute function within their ambit, the manner in which they do so can be no ground for interference