Administrative Law Notes | B.A. LL.B. (Five Year Course) Semester 7 | Mumbai University | munotes

Contents

Module I Introduction, Basic Constitutional Principles, Classification of Administrative Functions

1. The Rise of the Administrative State 1
2. What Administrative Law Is: Definition, Nature and Scope 7
3. Sources of Administrative Law 13
4. Red Light and Green Light Theories 19
5. How Administrative Law Grew: England, United States, France and India 25
6. Administrative Law and Constitutional Law 31
7. Rule of Law 36
8. Separation of Powers 44
9. Classification of Administrative Functions 52
10. Distinguishing Legislative, Judicial, Quasi-judicial and Administrative Functions 58

Module II Delegated Legislation, its Control, and the Principles of Natural Justice

1. Delegated Legislation and Why It Grew 65
2. Constitutional Validity of Delegated Legislation 71
3. Excessive Delegation: Permissible and Impermissible Delegation 77
4. Forms and Types of Delegated Legislation 84
5. Judicial Control over Delegated Legislation 89
6. Legislative Control over Delegated Legislation 95
7. Other Controls: Publication, Consultation and Procedural Safeguards 100
8. Principles of Natural Justice: Definition, Nature and Scope 106
9. The Rule Against Bias 113
10. Audi Alteram Partem 119
11. Reasoned Decisions 125
12. Post-Decisional Hearing 130
13. Exceptions to the Principles of Natural Justice 136
14. The Effect of a Failure of Natural Justice 141

Module III Administrative Tribunals, Administrative Discretion and Judicial Control, Liability of Government

1. Administrative Tribunals: Nature and Characteristics 147
2. Tribunal and Court Distinguished 153
3. The Working of Tribunals: the Administrative Tribunals Act 1985 158
4. Tribunalisation and the Threat to Judicial Independence: the Tribunals Reforms Act 2021 166
5. Administrative Discretion and Why It Is Conferred 176
6. Grounds of Judicial Review: Abuse of Discretion 182
7. Grounds of Judicial Review: Failure to Exercise Discretion 188
8. Judicial Remedies against Administrative Arbitrariness: the Writs 193
9. The Doctrine of Legitimate Expectation 202
10. The Doctrine of Proportionality 208
11. Public Accountability 214
12. Tortious Liability of the State 219
13. Sovereign and Non-Sovereign Functions 225
14. Contractual Liability of the State 232
15. Government Privilege in Legal Proceedings and State Secrets 238
16. Estoppel and Waiver against the Government 244
17. Act of State and Statutory Immunity 250

Module IV Corporations and Public Undertakings, Grievance Redressal, Civil Services, Right to Information

1. Corporations and Public Undertakings: Definition and Characteristics 256
2. Classification of Public Corporations 262
3. Liability of and Control over Public Corporations 266
4. Informal Settlement of Disputes: Conciliation and Mediation 272
5. Use of Media, Lobbying and Public Participation 278
6. Public Inquiries and the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1952 284
7. The Ombudsman 291
8. Lokpal: the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013 296
9. Lokayukta in Maharashtra: the 1971 Act, and the 2023 Act awaiting commencement 304
10. The Central Vigilance Commission 311
11. Congressional and Parliamentary Committees 318
12. Civil Services in India: Nature, Organisation, Powers and Functions 324
13. Accountability and Responsiveness: Problems and Perspectives 331
14. Administrative Deviance: Corruption, Nepotism and Maladministration 337
15. The Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 342
16. Whistleblowers' Protection: the Act of 2014 and the PIDPI Resolution 349
17. Transparency and the Right to Information: a Constitutional Imperative 358
18. The RTI Act 2005: Object, Application, Definitions and Salient Features 365
19. Obligations of Public Authorities and How a Request Is Made 372
20. Exemptions from Disclosure 379
21. The Central and State Information Commissions 386
22. Appeals and Penalties under the RTI Act 394
23. Hurdles in the Implementation of the RTI Act 401