NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY DELHI

SUMMER SESSION: August-December 2022

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW

UNDER GRADUATE – V SEMESTER

COURSE FACILITATOR

JS Mann & Dinesh Singh

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Course Objectives and Teaching Methodology

Administration and administrative law are the all-pervading features of welfare state.
Administrative law is evolved to control the abuse or misuse of government power by
public authorities and its various instrumentalities within the limits of their power.

Objectives of the Course:

The challenges of administrative law, like other common law fields, include both the
identification of issues and doctrine and the application of doctrine in concrete fact
situations. In order to develop these skills, students need to be exposed to a lot of
examples of the way judges’ reason in administrative law cases, and must learn to
identify the types of arguments that lawyers and judges find compelling.
Learning with pratical efficacy of administrative law is the fundamental objective
of the course.

The fundamental objectives of the course are to develop the ability of students to:

 Understand basic administrative law, rules and concepts;

 Identify administrative law issues in concrete fact situations;
 Apply administrative law rules and concepts in concrete fact Situations;
 Think critically about and evaluate administrative law doctrines.
 Criticval analysis of law and practice of Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985
 Assimilation of fundamentals of transparency and accountability in governance

Teaching-Learning Methodology:
 Lecture Cum Discussion Method
 Socratic Method of Teaching and Learning
 Case Presentation
 Project Work

Evaluation Scheme: As per the University Regulations

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COURSE OUTLINE
Module I: Conceptualization and Scope of Administrative Law
1. Evolution and development of Administrative Law
2. Concept of Administrative Law
3. Amplitude of administrative Law
4. Constitutional Law and Administrative Law
5. Droit Administratatif and Indian Perspective
6. Theory of Separation of Powers: Legislative, Executive and Judiciary
7. Rule of Law—Dicey’s Rule of Law and Modern concept of Rule of Law

Reading Material:
Case law:
1. Marbury v. Madison 1803 5 US (1 Cranch) 137 US Supreme Court
2. Hamdan v. Donald Rumsfeld 2006 WL 684299 US Supreme Court
3. Tata Cellular v. U.O.I, (1994) 6 SCC 651
4. Vineet Narain v. U.O.I, (1998) 1 SCC 226
5. Welfare Assn A.R.P, Maharashtra v. R.P. Gohil, AIR 2003 SC 3078
6. State of UP v. Jeet S Bisht & Anr, 2007 6 SCC 586

Module II: Amplitude of Administrative Actions

1. Concept of Administrative Actions
2. Classification of Administrative functions: Pure Administrative-with or
without Civil Consequences, Quasi-judicial and quasi-legilsative
3. Administrative Discretion: Scope, justification and Control
4. The Constitution of India: Articles 323A & 323 B: Administrative
Tribunals
5. Overview of Tribunals in India with special reference to Administrative
Tribunals established under the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985
6. Civil Courts vis-a-vis Tribunals : Legal status and Jurisdictional
conflicts

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Reading Material:
Case law:
1. L. Chandra Kumar. v. U.O.I, AIR 1997 SC 1125
2. Province of Bombay v. Khushal Das Advani, AIR 1950 SC 222
3. State of T.N. v. S. Thangaval , (1997) 2 SCC 349
4. State of West Bengal v. Ashish Kumar Roy, AIR 2005 SC 254
5. Durgadas v. UOI, AIR 2002 SC 2639
6. Dr. H Mukherjee v. SK Bhargva 1996 4 SCC 542
7. State of West Bengal & Ors v. Kamal Sengupta & anr, JT 2008 (8) SC 317
8. T Sudhakar Prasad v. Govt of AP & ors, JT 2001(1) SC 204
9. Rojer Mathew vs. South Inidan Bank Ltd 2019

Module III: Delegated Legislation

1. Meaning, reasons for growth, and limits of delegation of legislative power
2. Primary and Secondary Legislative activities: Nature and Classification
3. Conditional legislation and Delegated Legislation
4. Controls over delegated legislation
a. Judicial Control
b. Legislative Controls

Reading Material:
Case law:
1. Atlas Cycle Industries Ltd. v. State of Haryana, AIR 1979 SC 1149
2. Darshan Lal Mehra v. U.O.I, AIR1992 SC 1848
3. Govind Lal v. A.P.M. Committee , AIR 1976 SC 263
4. In Re Delhi Laws Act, AIR 1951 SC 332
5. Raj Narain v. Chairman, Patna Administration Committee, AIR 1954 SC 519
6. Secy. Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers v. Cipla Ltd., AIR 2003 SC 3078
7. State of T.N. v. P. Krishnamurthy, AIR 2006 SC 1622

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8. DDA v. Joint Action Committee, AIR 2008 SC 1343

Module IV: Principles of the Natural Justice

1. Concept of Natural Justice: Scope and fundamentals
2. Recognistion of the due process by the Indian Constitution, US
Constitution, and others
3. The Audi Alterem Partem: Right to hearing
a. Requirements of Notice
b. Rules of fair hearing
c. Pre & post decisional hearing
4. Rule against Bias (Conflict of Interests): Properties and Classification
5. Speaking/reasoned Order
6. Good Faith- Bias and Good Faith
7. Consequences of violation of the Principles of Natural Justice
a. Constitutional validity of a statue
b. Violation of the principles by tribunals/courts

Reading Material:
Case law:
Nemo Judex in causa sua
1. A.K. Kraipak v. U.O.I, AIR 1970 SC 150
2. Amar Nath Chaudhary v. Braithwaite & Co. Ltd. , (2002) 2 SCC 290
3. Ashok Kr. Yadav v. State of Haryana, (1985) 4 SCC 417
4. G. N. Nayak v. Goa University, (2002) 2 SCC 712
Rule of fair hearing
1. Canara Bank v. V. K. Awasthy, AIR 2005 SC 2090
2. Hira Nath Mishra v. Principal, Rajendra Medical College, AIR 1973 SC 1260
3. J. K. Agarwal v. Haryana Seeds Development Corop. Ltd, AIR 1991 SC 1221
4. Swadeshi Cotton Mills ltd. v . U.O.I, (1981) 1 SCC 664
5. U.O.I v. Tulsi Ram Patel, (1985) 3 SCC 398

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Pre & Post decisional hearing

1. H. L. Trehan v. U.O.I, (1989) 1 SCC 764
2. Maneka Gandhi v. U. O. I., (1978) 1 SCC 248
Requirement of passing speaking/reasoned order
1. S.N. Mukherjee v. U.O.I, (1990) 4 SCC 594
2. Tara Chand v. MCD (1977) 1 SCC 472
Requirement of supplying enquiry report
1. M.D., ECIL, Hyderabad v. B. Karunakar, (1993) 4 SCC 77
2. P. D. Agarwal v. State Bank of India, 2006(5) SCALE 54
3. State of U.P. v. Harendra Arora, (2001) 6 SCC 392

Module V: Judicial Review of Administrative Actions

1. Concept of Judicial Review: Necessity and Scope
2. Modes of Judicial Review
3. Grounds of Judicial Review
a. Illegality
b. Irrationality
c. Procedural Impropriety
d. Proportionality
e. Legitimate Expectation
4. Doctrine of Legitimate Expectation and Promissory Estoppel
5. Doctrine of Proportionality and Irrationality
6. Judicial Review under Articles 32, 136, 226 & 227

Reading Material:
Cases:
Meaning of Discretion
1. CCSU V. Minister for Civil Services [1984] 3 All ER 935
2. Indian Railway Construction Co. Ltd v. Ajay Kumar, (2003) 4 SCC 579

Arbitrariness / discrimination / unreasonableness

1. A.N. Parsuraman v. State of T.N, AIR 1990 SC 40

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2. Dwarka Pd. Laxmi Narain v. St. of U.P., AIR 1954 SC 224

3. Marbury v.Madison 1803 5 US (1 Cranch) 137 US Supreme Court

Bad Faith/Malafide
1. Express Newspapers (p) Ltd. v. U. O .I, AIR 1986 SC 827
2. G. Sadanandan v. State of Kerala, AIR 1966 SC 1925
3. Pratap Singh v. State of Punjab, AIR 1964 SC 72
4. State of Punjab v. V. K. Khanna (2001) 2 SCC 330
5. U.O.I v. Malti Sharma, 2006(2) SCALE 578

Ignoring relevant considerations or reliance on irrelevant considerations

1. Commr. Of Police v. Goardhan Das Bhanji AIR 1952 SC 16
2. Ram Manohar Lohia v. State of Bihar, AIR 1966 SC 740
3. State of Bombay v. K.P. Krishnan, AIR 1960 SC 1223

Non exercise of powers

1. Shri Rama Sugar Industries v. State of A.P (1974) 1 SCC 534

Power of judicial review under Articles 32, 136, 226 & 227
1. Ekta Shakti Foundation v. Govt. of NCT of Delhi, MANU/SC/3115/2006
2. Maharashtra State Seeds Corpn. Ltd. v. Haridas, AIR 2006 SC 1480
3. T.K. Rangarajan v. State of T.N, AIR 2003 SC 3032
4. Tilok Chand Moti Chand v. H.B. Munshi, AIR 1970 SC 898
5.
Ouster clause
1. Govt. of Madras v. J. S. Bassappa, AIR 1964 SC 1873
2. K.C. Wora v. G. Annamanaidu, AIR 1974 SC 1069

Scope of review through writs

1. A.T. Sharma v. A.P. Sharma AIR 1979 SC 1047

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2. Anadi Mukta Satguru trust v. V. R. Udaisi ( 1989) 2 SCC 691

3. Daryo v. State of U.P., AIR 1961 SC 1457
4. R.S. Deodhar v. State of Maharashtra , AIR 1974 SC 259
5. S.D. Rai v. Ram Chandra Rai, (2003) 6 SCC 675
6. Ujjaim Bai v. State of U.P., AIR 1962 SC 1621
7. Zee Telefilms v. U.O.I, (2005) 4 SCC 649

Doctrine of legitimate expectation & promissory estoppel

1. Delhi Cloth & Gen Mills v. UOI, ( 1988) 1 SCC 66
2. Larsen & Turbo ltd. v. UOI AIR 2005 SC 4180
3. National Building Construction Co. v. S Raghunathan, (1998)7 SCC 66
4. Navjyoti Corpn. Group Housing Society v. UOI, (1992) 4 SCC 477

Doctrine of proportionality
1. T. O. Estates P Ltd v. U.T. Chandigarh, 2003 (10) SCALE 1016

Module VI: Transparency and Accountability in Governance

1. Doctrine of Public Accountability
a. Vicarious Liability of the State
b. Legislative Hindrances in the promotion of the Doctrine
2. The Ombudsman:
a. Institution of Lokpal and Lokayukts: the Act of 2013
3. The Right to Information Act, 2005:
a. Scope of right to Information,
b. Process of obtaining information, appeal, inspection etc,
c. Effectiveness of the scheme
4. The Commissions of Inquiry Act 1952:
a. Object and scope
b. Process and Powers of commission
5. Judicial Standards and Accoutability

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Reading Material:
Cases:
1. The State Of U. P. v. Raj Narain and Ors, 1975 (4) SCC 0428 SC
2. State of Katk v. UOI, AIR 1978 SC 68
3. Ram Krishan Dalmia v. Shri Justice SR Tendolkar AIR 1958 SC 538
4. CPIO,Supreme Court of India v. Subhash .C. Agrawal, 2011 3MLJ 194 SC
5. MP Special Police Establishment & Anr v. State of MP & ors, 2004 8SCC 788
6. The Institute Of Chartered Accountants of India v. Shaunak H. Satya And Ors
JT2011(10)SC128, (2011)8SCC781, Decided On: 02.09.2011
7. Central Board of Secondary Education and Anr v. Aditya Bandopadhyay and Ors.
JT2011(9)SC212, Decided on 09.08.2011

Suggested Books:
1. D. D. Basu, Administrative Law, 6TH Edn, Kamal Law House, Calcutta, 2005
2. Justice C K Thakkar, Administrative Law, Eastern Book Company, Lucknow,
2012
3. M.P. Jain & S.N. Jain, Principles Of Administrative Law, 4th Edn, Wadhwa and
Company, Nagpur, 2005
4. P.P. Craig, Administrative Law, Sweet & Maxwell, London, Indian print,
2002
5. S.P. Sathe, Administrative Law, 7TH Edn Butterworths India, New Delhi,
2008
6. Sir W. Wade, Administrative Law, 8TH Edn., Universal Law Publishing Co.
Pvt. Ltd., 2000)