ALTERNATIVE WRIT
An order, issued originally by the king in England but more recently by a court, commanding a person to do a specific thing or to appear and explain why he or she should not be compelled to do it.
Under the COMMON LAW, the writs of prohibitionand MANDAMUS were alternative writs. In modern systems of court procedure, an order toshow cause serves the same purpose. It commands a person to do something or come intocourt and show cause why he or she should notbe made to do it.
