M.C Mehta vs. Union of India, 1987
A letter addressed to only one judge of the court can be entertained as Writ Petition.
Judgement Details
Court
Supreme Court of India
Date of Decision
20 December 1986
Judges
Justice P.N Bhagwati || Ranganath Misra || G.L Oza and M.M Dutt and K.N Singh, JJ
Citation
AIR 1987 SC 1086: (1987) 1 ACC 157: (1987) 1 SCC395
Acts / Provisions
Section 13(1)(ia), Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
Section 25, Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
Facts of the Case
In Bandhua Mukti Morcha V Union of India, AIR 1984 SC 802 some of judges of Supreme Court apprehended that letters addressed to individual justice may involve the court in frivolous cases and that possibility view could be taken that such letters do not invoke the jurisdiction of the court as a whole, observed that such letters should not be addressed to individual justices of the court but to the court or to the Chief Justice and his companion judges.
Issues
Whether a letter to an individual judge can be treated as a Writ Petition?
Held
It was further held that the court must not forget that letters would ordinarily be addressed by poor and disadvantaged persons or by social action groups who might not know the proper form of address, they know only particular judge who comes from their state and might address to him.
Analysis
It was further held that the court must not forget that letters would ordinarily be addressed by poor and disadvantaged persons or by social action groups who might not know the proper form of address, they know only particular judge who comes from their state and might address to him.