The writ of Prohibition is issued after a lower court has passed an order, while Certiorari is issued before the order to prevent excess of jurisdiction.

Key distinction: (a) Prohibition is PREVENTIVE - issued while proceedings are pending, before order, to prevent lower court/tribunal from exceeding jurisdiction, (b) Certiorari is CURATIVE - issued after order is passed, to quash order made without/ excess of jurisdiction. Both available under Articles 32 & 226 against judicial/quasi-judicial bodies.