Munir, Bakht & Ataullah, Khan & Mahmood, Ataullah & Sohail, Muhammad. (2020).

Principles of Administrative Discretion: A Case Study of Pakistan. Pakistan Social

Sciences Review. 4. 10.35484/pssr.2020(4-III)74. With the emergence of the concept
of welfare state and multiplication of executive functions, administrative
discretion has to be accepted as a necessary evil. Discretionary authority
conferred on the executive is never been absolute rather subject to legislative and
judicial control. State functionaries, in performance of their duties, are
entrusted with certain discretionary powers to regulate state affairs and to
advance the cause of justice. In the exercise of discretionary powers, the
executive authorities are bound to observe certain principles, standards, and
parameters articulated by legislature and the Superior Courts so as to avoid misuse
of authority. With the help of qualitative and deductive research methodology, this
article aims to examine various case laws wherein the Superior Courts enunciated
principles and standards for the proper exercise of discretionary authority, in
order to keep the executive in its bounds.