Professional Documents
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Structure
Objectives Introduction Meaning of Administrative Law Administrative Tribunals Reasons for the Growth of Administrative Tribunals Types of Administrative Tribunals Advantages of Administrative Tribunals Disadvantages of Administrative Tribunals Safeguards in the Working of Administrative Tribunals Let Us Sum Up Key Words References and Further Readings Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises
23.0 OBJECTIVES
After studying this unit, you should be able to: Explain the meaning of administrative law Enumerate the meaning and characteristics of administrative tribunals and reasons for their growth
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Discuss various types of administrative tribunals; and Describe the advantages and disadvantages of tribunals.
23.1 INTRODUCTION
There has been a phenomenal increase in the functions of the government, which has lent enormbus powers to the executive and also led to increase in the legislative output. This has led to more litigation, restrictions on the freedom of the individuals and constant frictions between them and the authority. Administrqtipe tribunals have emerged not only in India but also in many other countries with the objective of providing a new type of justice - public good oriented justice. These tribunals manned by technical experts, with flexibility in operations, informality in procedures have gained importance in the adjudication process. In this unit, we shall first discuss the meaning of administrative law. Then we will deal with the meaning and features of administrative tribunals, the reasons for their growth, their types and their advantages and disadvantages.
Citizen and
Administration
The administrative tribunals are the instruments for the application of administrative law. They have distinct advantage over the ordinary courts because they ensure cheapness, accessibility, freedom from) technicality, expedition and expert knowledge of the particular subject. The involvement of experts in administration in regulating administrative actions is necessary to provide justice to the citizens, without sacrificing the institutional needs. What is involved is basically the relative position of two values, that is, the protection of the individual and his legitimate interests and the effective attainment of public purpose.
Administrative Tribunals
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notification of the Government of India in the Department of Atomic Energy; (d) Railway Transport. Private sector participation can be invited on discriminatory basis even in some of these areas. Under the amended MRTP Act, a three-tier system for settling consumer complaints has been provided. This operates as District Level Forum at the district level, State Commissions at the state levels and National Consumers Disputes Redressal Commission at the national level. The National Commission has power to hear the appeals against State Commissions and also has revisional powers. Appeal from the National Commission lies to the Supreme Court.
Elgction Commission (EC)
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Administrative Tribunals
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The Election Commission is a tribunal for adjudication of matters pertaining to the allotment of election symbols to parties and similar other problems. The decision of the commission can be challenged in the Supreme Court.
Foreign Exchange Regulation Appellate Board (FERAB)
The Board has been set up under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973. A person who is aggrieved by an order of adjudication for causing breach or committing offences under the Act can file an appeal before the FERAB.
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal
This tribunal has been constituted under the Income Tax Act, 1961. The Tribunal has its benches in various cities and appeals can be filed before it by an aggrieved personls against the order passed by the Deputy Commissioner or Commissioner or Chief Commissioner or Director of 1ncome'~ax.An appeal against the order of the Tribunal lies to the High Court. An appeal also lies to the Supreme Court if the High Court deems fit.
Railway Rates Tribunal
This-Tribunal was set up under the Indian Railways Act, 1989. It adjudicates matters pertaining to the complaints against the railway administration. These may be related to the discriminatory or unreasonable rates, unfair charges or preferential treatment meted out by the rajlway'administration. The appeal against the order of the Tribunal lies with the Supreme Court.
Industrial Tribunal
This Tribunal has been set up under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. It can be constituted by' both the Central as well as State governments. The Tribunal looks into the dispute between the employers and the workers in matters relating to wages, the period and mode of payment, compensation and other allowances, hours of work, gratuity, retrenchment and closure of the establishment. The appeals against the decision of the Tribunal lie with the Supreme Court.
Check Your Progress 2 Note: i) Use the space given below for your answers. ii) Check your answers with those given at the end of the Unit.
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3) Less Expensive
Administrative justice ensures cheap and quick justice. As against this, procedure in the law courts is long and cumbersome and litigation is costly. It involves payment of huge court fees, engagement of lawyers and meeting of other incidental charges. Administrative adjudication, in most cases, requires no stamp fees. Its procedures are simple and can be easily understood by a layman. 4) Relief to Courts The system also gives the much-needed relief to ordinary courts of law, which are already overburdened with ordinary suits. 5) Experimentation Experimentation is possible in this field and not in the realm of judicial trials. The practical experience gained in the working of any particular authority can be more easily utilised by amendments of laws, rules and regulations. Amendment of law relating to courts is quite arduous. In sum, flexibility, accessibility and low cost are the important merits of administrative tribunals. In the words of W.A. Robson, the advantages of administrative tribunals are "cheapness and speed with which they usually work, the technical knowledge and experience which they make available for the discharge of judicial functions in special fields, the assistance which they lend to the efficient conduct of public administration,
and the ability they possess to lay down new standards and to promote a policy of social improvement". Now we will discuss some of the disadvantages of the administrative tribunals.
Administrative Tribunals
Administrative tribunals should be manned by persons possessing legal training and experience. To inspire public confidence, the appointment of members should be made in consultation with the Supreme Court. A code of judicial procedure for administrative tribunals should be devised and enforced. This is important in view of the prevalence of varying procedures of administrative adjudication in India. Reasons should invariably accompaily decisions by the tribunals. "Good Laws", observed Jeremy Bentham,. "are such laws for which good reasons can be given". A reasoned decision goes towards convincing those, who are affected by it, about its innate fairness and is a check against misuse of power.
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The jurisdiction of the Supreme Court (as well as the High Courts) should not be curtailed. In other words, the right to judicial review on points of law must remain unimpaired. Some of the administrative tribunals permit appeal to the court of law. Some, however, seek to ban judicial review altogether by making decisions final. According to M.C. Setalvad, former Attorney General of India, the need for judicial review is greater in a nascent democracy like India.
Check Your Progress 3 Note: i) Use the space given below for your answers. ii) Chmk your answers with those given at the end of the Unit.
1) Discuss the advantages of Administrative Tribunals?
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2) Discuss the disadvantages of Administrative Tribunals?
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Administrative Tribunals
ii) No decision should be given against a party without affording them a reasonable hearing. iii) Quasi-judicial enquiries should be held in good faith and without bias and not arbitrarily or unreasonably. To give every citizen a fair hearing is as much a canon of good administration as it is of a good legal procedure. Public Good Oriented Justice: In the modem state, Public Good Oriented Justice provides a new type of justice where the individuals are able to assert themselves freely, welfare of the community is kept in view and the system functions like a social institution existing for achieving social end.
Administrative Law includes the statues, charters, rules, regulations, procedures, decisions, etc. required for smooth running of administration. It determines the organisation, powers and duties of administrative authorities.
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Your answer must include the following points: Administrative tribunals are authorities outside the ordinary court system, which interpret and apply the laws when acts of public administration are questioned. They stand midway of the judiciary and administration. They are established by the executive and perform quasi-judicial functions and operate on the principles of natural justice.
In 1969, the Parliament enacted the MRTP Act by which the Monopolies Commission was set up and given powers to entertain complaints regarding monopolistic and restrictive trade practices and later unfair trade practices by the Amendment Act in 1984.
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Your answer must include the following points: It is negation of the rule of the law. No set procedures and violates the principles of natural justice.
They do not have uniform pattern of administering justice. They are manned by administrators who may not have the background of law.
Administrative Tribunals
3) Your answer must include the following points: Administrative tribunals to be manned by persons with legal training and experience.
Devising and enforcing of a code of judicial procedure for tribunals. Reasons to accompany decisions of the tribunals. Right to judicial review on points of law to be retained.