MEHWISH ASLAM and others vs S.H.O. and others

This matter concerns an application filed before the Principal Seat of the Lahore High Court seeking to entertain a writ petition. The petitioners were residents of District Muzaffar Garh, and the respondents were officials operating within the jurisdiction of the Multan Bench of the Lahore High Court. The core legal question addressed was whether the Principal Seat of the High Court could entertain a writ petition when the cause of action and the parties involved fell squarely within the territorial jurisdiction of a specific Circuit Bench. The Court held that no case was made out for entertaining the petition at the Principal Seat, as the territorial jurisdiction lay with the Multan Bench. Consequently, the application was dismissed. The key principle laid down is that the Principal Seat of a High Court will not entertain writ petitions where the parties and the cause of action fall within the territorial jurisdiction of a designated Circuit Bench, absent compelling reasons to deviate from established jurisdictional boundaries.