Legal Definitions - alternative mandamus

Definition: Alternative mandamus is a type of writ that is issued by a superior court to compel a lower court or government officer to perform mandatory or purely ministerial duties correctly. It is also known as a writ of mandamus or mandate.

Example: Let's say that a citizen has applied for a permit to build a house, but the government officer responsible for issuing the permit has not responded to the application. The citizen can file a petition for an alternative mandamus, which would require the officer to either issue the permit or appear in court to explain why it has not been issued.

Explanation: In this example, the citizen is using an alternative mandamus to compel the government officer to perform a mandatory duty (issuing the permit) correctly. If the officer fails to comply with the writ, they may be held in contempt of court.