Can a writ petition be disposed of as infructuous once the petitioner’s grievance is redressed?

Calcutta High Court reaffirms that where relief has been granted by respondents, a writ petition may be summarily disposed of as infructuous, providing binding guidance on procedural finality in writ jurisdiction.

 

Summary

Category Data
Case Name WPA/16787/2025 of Namita Roy Vs State of West Bengal And Ors.
CNR WBCHCA0341752025
Court Calcutta High Court
Bench Single Judge
Judgment Author Hon’ble Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya
Disposal Nature DISPOSED
Overrules / Affirms Affirms existing procedural practice
Type of Law Writ Petition (Administrative Law)
Questions of Law Whether a writ petition can be disposed of as infructuous once the petitioner’s grievance is redressed
Ratio Decidendi The court held that when the grievance of the petitioner is redressed by the respondents, there remains no live controversy and the petition can be disposed of as infructuous.

What’s New / What Lawyers Should Note

  • Confirms that a writ petition may be summarily disposed of if the relief sought has been granted by the respondents.
  • Emphasises that no further adjudication on the merits is required once the grievance has been addressed.
  • Provides concise authority for opposing needless continuance of writ proceedings after relief is provided.

Summary of Legal Reasoning

  1. The petitioner’s counsel submitted that the grievance had been fully redressed by the State respondents and the school authority.
  2. The Court observed that, with no live issue remaining, there was no necessity to pass any further order on the writ petition.
  3. Exercising its inherent jurisdiction, the Court disposed of the petition as infructuous, recording that the petitioner’s complaint had been remedied.

Arguments by the Parties

Petitioner

  • The petitioner’s grievance has been redressed by the State and the school authority, rendering the petition moot and infructuous.

Respondents

  • No opposition was raised to the disposal once the relief was granted.

Factual Background

  1. The petitioner approached the Calcutta High Court by way of a writ petition challenging certain actions of the State of West Bengal and a school authority.
  2. During the pendency of the petition, the respondents redressed the grievance articulated by the petitioner.
  3. On that basis, the Court found no live controversy and disposed of the petition without delving into substantive merits.

Alert Indicators

  • ✔ Precedent Followed – The judgment reaffirms established practice of disposing writ petitions once relief has been granted.

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