LL.B. (Three Years) Administrative Law Syllabus - SPPU 2026

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Syllabus for Administrative Law

Semester 5 · Third Year · 4 credits

Course Aims

To understand the evolution, nature and scope of Administrative Law and its relation with Constitutional Law. To study different Constitutional principles, powers of administration, the control mechanism etc. Further to assess the liability of the government in torts and contract. In addition to aforesaid, to study the informal methods of settlement of disputes and grievance redressal procedures. Lastly, to trace out, understand the importance of Right to Information in administration in the present context. In other words the aim of this course is to study the structure, governance, organization, powers and function or public authorities in India. The expansion of powers of the necessities to undertake a scrutiny of its various functions: Legislative, Executive as well as Judicial.

Outcomes

● Administrative law in India is essentially a judge made law and therefore students are expected to be acquainted with the development of the subject with leading cases.
● Students will also be able to understand concepts and principles governing administrative law, so also appreciate role, powers and functions of administrative organs and recent development of administrative law.

Module 01: Evolution, Nature and Scope of Administrative Law

1. Evolution, Definitions, Nature, Scope and Development of Administrative Law
2. Relationship between Constitutional Law and Administrative Law
3. Reasons for growth of Administrative Law
4. Doctrine of Separation of Powers
5. Doctrine of Rule of Law

Module 02: Delegated Legislation (Legislative Powers of Administration)

1. Meaning of and Necessity for Delegated Legislation
2. Reasons for growth of Delegated Legislation
3. Functions which may be delegated (Permissible Delegation)
4. Restraints on Delegation of Legislative Powers- comparative position: UK, USA and India
5. Legislative control of delegated legislation
6. Judicial control of delegated legislation
7. Sub-Delegation

Module 03: Administrative Adjudication (Judicial Powers of Administration)

1. Need for devolution of adjudicatory powers on Administration
2. Tribunals: Meaning, Nature, Constitution, Jurisdiction and Procedure
3. Principles of Natural Justice: Meaning, Nature, content etc.
1) Rule Against Bias: Types of Bias
2) Right of Fair Hearing- Components of Fair Hearing
4. Exceptions to natural justice
5. Effect of violation of natural justice

Module 04: Judicial Review of Administrative Discretion

1. Meaning and need for administrative discretion
2. Rule of Law and Administrative Discretion, Constitutional imperatives
3. Judicial Control of administrative discretion
1) Failure to exercise discretion
2) Abuse of discretion
4. Doctrine of Proportionality, Doctrine of Legitimate Expectation, Public Accountability.

Module 05: Liability For Wrongs of Government / State (Tortious and Contractual)

1. Liability of State in Torts Sovereign and Non-Sovereign Function, act of State
2. Liability of government in Contracts
3. Doctrine of Estoppel and Waiver
4. Statutory Immunity: Act of State
5. Government’s privileges in legal proceedings

Module 06: Corporations and Public Undertakings

1. Meaning and characteristics of corporations
2. Liability of public and private corporations: departmental undertakings
3. Legislative, Governmental and Parliamentary control over Corporations and public undertakings
4. Legal Remedies, Accountability: committee on Public Undertakings

Module 07: Settlement Of Disputes And Grievance Redressal Procedures

1. Informal methods of settlement of disputes- Conciliation and mediation etc.
2. Commission of Enquiry- The Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952
3. Ombudsman in India - The Lokpal And Lokayuktas Act, 2013
4. Central Vigilance Commission- Central Vigilance Commission Act 2003
5. The Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2014

Module 08: Right To Information

1. Transparency and right to information
2. Right to Information Act, 2005- Object, application, definition and Salient features of the Act
3. Citizen charter - obligations of Public Authorities
4. Hurdles in the implementation of the Act

Recommended Books

1. M.A. Fazal, Judicial Control of Administrative Action in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh (2000), Butterworth: India.
2. Franks, Report of the Committee on Administrative Tribunals and Inquiris HMSO, 1959.
3. Peter Cane, an Introduction of Administrative Law (1996) Oxford.
4. Wade, Administrative Law (Seventh Edition, Indian Print 1997), Universal, Delhi.
5. J. C. Garner, Administrative Law (1998) Butterworth (ed.B.L. Jones).
6. M. P. Jain Cases and Materials on Indian Administrative Law Vol. I and II (1996), Universal, Delhi.
7. De Smith, Judicial Review of Administrative Action (1995), Swest and Maxwell with supplement.
8. Indian Law Institute, Cases and Materials on Administrative Law in India Vol I (1996), Delhi.
9. C. K. Takwani, Lectures on Administrative Law, Eastern Law Pub. Co. Luuknow.
10. De Smith, Judicial Review of Administrative Action, (Sweet and Maxwell, 1995)
11. C. K. Allen, Law and Orders (1985).
12. D.D. Basu, Comparative Administrative Law (1998).
13. Jain and Jain, Principles of Administrative Law (1997), Universal Delhi.
14. S. P. Sathe, Administrative Law (1998), Butterworth: India, Delhi.
15. N. K. Archarya, Commentry on Right to Information Act 2005, Asia Law House, Hydrabad.
16. P. K. Das, Universal’s Handbook on The Right to Information Act, 2005, Universal Law Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi

Reproduced from the Savitribai Phule Pune University Revised CBCS Rule and Syllabus for LL.B., the 2023 pattern as amended on 18 July 2024. Wording is as printed in that syllabus. Module numbering is as printed there too.

The complete syllabus

Every subject above is cut from the revised syllabus. Open the document here if you want the whole thing rather than a single subject.

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