Important Legal Definitions
Explore legal terms, clear definitions and practical examples.
Epistolary Jurisdiction
Prerogative Writs & Extraordinary Remedies
Definition
The procedural mechanism whereby constitutional courts treat informal letters, postcards, telegrams, or newspaper reports sent by citizens as formal writ petitions under Article 32 or Article 226 without standard affidavits or court fee stamps.
Example
In Veena Sethi v. State of Bihar, the Supreme Court treated a letter from a legal aid society detailing undertrial prisoners languishing in prison for over 30 years without trial as a formal writ petition and directed their immediate release.