Upon relation or information . Legal proceedings which are institutedby the attorney general (or other proper person) in the name and behalf of the state,but on the information and at the instigation of an individual who has a private interestin the matter, are said to be taken “on the relation” ( ex relatione ) of such person, whois called the “relator.” Such a cause is usually entitled thus: “State ex rcl. Doe v. Roe.”In the books of reports, when a case is said to be reported ex relatione, it is meant that the reporter derives his account of it, not from personal knowledge , but from the relation or narrative of some person who waspresent at the argument.
Black’s Law Online Dictionary
