Constitutional Remedies & the Writs — Articles 32 & 226 — KSLU Constitutional Law Notes

Constitutional Remedies & the Writs — Articles 32 & 226

A right without a remedy is no right at all. Article 32 makes the right to move the Supreme Court to enforce fundamental rights itself a fundamental right; Article 226 empowers the High Courts to issue writs for fundamental rights and “for any other purpose.”

	Article 32	Article 226
Court	Supreme Court	High Courts
Scope	Only fundamental rights	FRs + other legal rights (wider)
Status	A fundamental right itself	A constitutional (not fundamental) right
Reach	All-India	Within territorial jurisdiction

flowchart TD
    A["The Five Writs (H-M-P-C-Q)"]:::root
    A --> B["Habeas Corpus<br/>'produce the body' —<br/>illegal detention"]:::leaf
    A --> C["Mandamus<br/>'we command' —<br/>compel a public duty"]:::leaf
    A --> D["Prohibition<br/>stop a lower court<br/>exceeding jurisdiction"]:::leaf
    A --> E["Certiorari<br/>quash an order made<br/>without jurisdiction"]:::leaf
    A --> F["Quo Warranto<br/>'by what authority'<br/>holds this office?"]:::leaf

    classDef root fill:#FFF8DC,stroke:#333,color:#000;
    classDef leaf fill:#E6F3FF,stroke:#1E3A8A,color:#000;
    linkStyle default stroke:#888,stroke-width:1px;

(Article 227 separately gives High Courts superintendence over all courts and tribunals — a supervisory power distinct from the writ jurisdiction.)