<h2>Supreme Court Upholds Article 226 Writ Against HEWO Society</h2>
<p>The <span class="key-term" data-definition="Article 12 — Part III of the Indian Constitution that defines the concept of ‘State’ and guarantees fundamental rights, forming the basis for judicial review (GS2: Polity)">Article 12</span> and <span class="key-term" data-definition="Article 226 — Provision empowering High Courts to issue writs for enforcement of fundamental rights and for any other purpose (GS2: Polity)">Article 226</span> were at the centre of a landmark judgment delivered in the <strong>January‑March 2026</strong> Supreme Court Quarterly Digest. The apex court affirmed the High Court’s view that a writ petition under Article 226 is maintainable against a registered <span class="key-term" data-definition="Society (HEWO) — A legally incorporated body formed under the Societies Registration Act, often used for educational or charitable purposes; here, the High‑End Women’s Organization (HEWO) (GS2: Polity)">Society (HEWO)</span>. The decision also underscored the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Fiduciary Duty — Legal and ethical obligation of a person in a position of trust to act loyally and prudently for the benefit of the principal, crucial for public officers (GS4: Ethics)">fiduciary duty</span> of government officers serving on governing bodies.</p>
<h3>Key Developments</h3>
<ul>
<li>The Supreme Court <strong>upheld</strong> the High Court’s finding that a writ petition under Article 226 can be filed against a Society, expanding the scope of judicial review.</li>
<li>The judgment clarified that government officers, when part of a Society’s governing body, owe a fiduciary duty to the Society and must avoid conflicts of interest.</li>
<li>The Court reiterated that the definition of “State” under Article 12 includes societies where the government has a substantial role, making them amenable to writ jurisdiction.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Facts</h3>
<p>1. The case involved the <span class="key-term" data-definition="HEWO — High‑End Women’s Organization, a registered society engaged in women’s empowerment initiatives (GS2: Polity)">HEWO</span>, which had a governing body comprising both elected members and government officials.</p>
<p>2. The petitioners argued that the Society, being a quasi‑governmental entity, should be subject to the writ jurisdiction of the High Court under Article 226.</p>
<p>3. The High Court held that the Society fell within the ambit of “State” as per Article 12, a view the Supreme Court later affirmed.</p>
<h3>UPSC Relevance</h3>
<p>• <span class="key-term" data-definition="Article 12 — Part III of the Indian Constitution that defines the concept of ‘State’ and guarantees fundamental rights, forming the basis for judicial review (GS2: Polity)">Article 12</span> and <span class="key-term" data-definition="Article 226 — Provision empowering High Courts to issue writs for enforcement of fundamental rights and for any other purpose (GS2:
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