certiorari

[Latin: to be informed]
A remedy in which the High Court orders decisions of inferior courts, tribunals, and administrative authorities to be brought before it and quashes them if they are *ultra vires or show an *error of law on the face of the record. Since the remedy exists for the public good the applicant need not show a direct personal interest (compare *declaration), but he must apply for it within three months and it is always discretionary (thus it may be refused if alternative remedies exist). The time limit is enforced with increasing vigour. Originally a prerogative writ, it is now obtained by an application for *judicial review.