Administrative Law and Administrative Reforms in India
What the domain tests
This domain tests delegated legislation, natural justice, judicial review of administrative action, tribunals, and India's reform record. Expect questions on writs, Articles 14 and 21, and reform commissions.
Core rules and concepts
- Administrative law governs the exercise of public power: rule-making (delegated legislation), adjudication (tribunals), and discretion.
- Natural justice: audi alteram partem (hear the other side) and nemo judex in causa sua (no one judge in their own cause).
- Judicial review: Articles 32 and 226; grounds include illegality, irrationality, procedural impropriety and proportionality.
- Article 323A allows administrative tribunals for service matters; Article 323B for other matters.
- Reforms: Administrative Reforms Commission (1966), 2nd ARC (2005–09), RTI Act 2005, Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013, Citizens' Charters, e-governance and cutting red tape.
Worked example
A licensing officer cancels a cinema licence after receiving complaints but without a hearing. The order is vulnerable: it violates audi alteram partem and Article 14's fairness requirement. The remedy is a writ petition under Article 226; the court may quash the order and remit it for a fresh hearing. The reasoning distinguishes merits from procedure: the court does not decide whether the cinema was unsafe; it decides whether the process was fair.
Traps that cost marks
Administrative law is not constitutional law, though they overlap. Tribunals are not ordinary courts and are subject to judicial review. Natural justice can be excluded by statute in limited cases, but not lightly. Reforms are not only structural; behavioural and digital reforms matter. Do not reduce administrative reforms to more laws.