High Courts need not entertain every Article 226 petition against orders of PMLA adjudicating authority: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has observed that the High Courts need not entertain every writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution against the orders of the Adjudicating Authority under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The court emphasized that the PMLA provides for a specific statutory appellate remedy, which is an appeal to the PMLA Appellate Tribunal. The High Court stated that the writ jurisdiction, being an extraordinary remedy, should not be invoked as a matter of routine, especially when an effective alternative remedy is available. This ruling discourages the practice of bypassing the statutory appellate process and directly approaching the High Court. It ensures that the specialized appellate tribunal for PMLA cases is not undermined and that the High Court's writ jurisdiction is reserved for exceptional cases involving a violation of fundamental rights or a lack of jurisdiction.