Question

Why is the person starting the action in housing court called the petitioner and not the plaintiff?

Answer 1

Plaintiff means one who seeks remedy in a civil action. In case of civil action for e.g. in law of torts or any violation of statute that leads to civil violation of rights, a suit is filed in court. These actions are adversarial in nature, that is , they have a conflict between two parties that is plaintiff and defendent .

Petitioner is a person who files a petition in court. A petition is simply a plea filed in court to enforce a legal or constitutional or statutory right. Petitioner is one who invokes the help of a court to redress his grievances. For e.g. in case of public interest we file a petition.