Locus standi denotes the legal capacity to institute or commence an action in a competent court of law or tribunal. The term entails the legal capacity of instituting or commencing an action in a competent court of law or tribunal without any inhibition, obstruction, or hindrance from any person or body whatsoever. The issue of locus standi is a condition precedent to the determination of a case on merit. Where a plaintiff has no locus standi to bring a suit, the suit becomes incompetent and the court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain it. The only order the court can make in the circumstance is that of dismissal.







