POPATRAO VYANKATRAO PATIL vs THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

The Supreme Court held that the High Court's refusal to entertain the writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, on the grounds of disputed questions of fact, was not justified. The Court emphasized that while self-restraint is a guiding principle, it is not absolute, and the High Court should have considered the merits of the case. The Court allowed the appeal, setting aside the High Court's order and directing it to hear the writ petition on its merits.