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 83
5. Judicial Control over Delegated Legislation 88
6. Legislative Control over Delegated Legislation 94
7. Other Controls: Publication, Consultation and Procedural Safeguards 99
8. Principles of Natural Justice: Definition, Nature and Scope 105
9. The Rule Against Bias 112
10. Audi Alteram Partem 118
11. Reasoned Decisions 124
12. Post-Decisional Hearing 129
13. Exceptions to the Principles of Natural Justice 135
14. The Effect of a Failure of Natural Justice 140

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

1. Administrative Tribunals: Nature and Characteristics 146
2. Tribunal and Court Distinguished 152
3. The Working of Tribunals: the Administrative Tribunals Act 1985 157
4. Tribunalisation and the Threat to Judicial Independence: the Tribunals Reforms Act 2021 164
5. Administrative Discretion and Why It Is Conferred 173
6. Grounds of Judicial Review: Abuse of Discretion 179
7. Grounds of Judicial Review: Failure to Exercise Discretion 185
8. Judicial Remedies against Administrative Arbitrariness: the Writs 190
9. The Doctrine of Legitimate Expectation 199
10. The Doctrine of Proportionality 205
11. Public Accountability 211
12. Tortious Liability of the State 216
13. Sovereign and Non-Sovereign Functions 223
14. Contractual Liability of the State 230
15. Government Privilege in Legal Proceedings and State Secrets 236
16. Estoppel and Waiver against the Government 242
17. Act of State and Statutory Immunity 248

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

1. Corporations and Public Undertakings: Definition and Characteristics 254
2. Classification of Public Corporations 259
3. Liability of and Control over Public Corporations 263
4. Informal Settlement of Disputes: Conciliation and Mediation 269
5. Use of Media, Lobbying and Public Participation 274
6. Public Inquiries and the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1952 280
7. The Ombudsman 286
8. Lokpal: the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013 291
9. Lokayukta in Maharashtra: the 1971 Act, and the 2023 Act awaiting commencement 298
10. The Central Vigilance Commission 305
11. Congressional and Parliamentary Committees 311
12. Civil Services in India: Nature, Organisation, Powers and Functions 317
13. Accountability and Responsiveness: Problems and Perspectives 324
14. Administrative Deviance: Corruption, Nepotism and Maladministration 330
15. The Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 335
16. Whistleblowers' Protection: the Act of 2014 and the PIDPI Resolution 341
17. Transparency and the Right to Information: a Constitutional Imperative 350
18. The RTI Act 2005: Object, Application, Definitions and Salient Features 357
19. Obligations of Public Authorities and How a Request Is Made 364
20. Exemptions from Disclosure 371
21. The Central and State Information Commissions 378
22. Appeals and Penalties under the RTI Act 385
23. Hurdles in the Implementation of the RTI Act 392