MEANING OF ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION
Administrative action is the action which is neither legislative nor judicial in nature but only concerned with the analysis and treatment of a particular situation and is devoid of generality. It has no procedure of collecting evidence and weighing arguments but only based upon subjective satisfaction where decision is based on policy and expediency. It does not decide a right or wrong , neither it ignores the principles of natural justice completely though it may affect a right. Unless the statute provides otherwise, a minimum of the principles of natural justice must always be observed depending on the fact situation of each case.
Administrative action may be statutory, having the force of law, or non statutory, devoid of such legal force. The bulk of the administrative action is statutory because a statute or the Constitution gives it a legal force but in some cases it may be non-statutory, such as issuing directions to subordinates not having the force of law, but its violation may be visited with disciplinary action. Though by and large administrative action is discretionary and is based on subjective satisfaction, however, the administrative authority must act fairly, impartially and reasonable.
CLASSIFICATION
Administrative action is classified broadly into three main organs of the government namely-
- Legislative
- Executive
- Judiciary
In Jayantilal Amritlal Shodhan V. F.N Rana and Ors
Generally an administrative action can be further bifurcated into 3 parts-
- Quasi-legislative action or Rule making: It includes the rule making power and delegated legislation. Under this organ the administration performs the function of legislation in such situations where it is not possible for any legislation to legislate laws for the kind of conflicts arising.
- Quasi-Judicial action or Rule decision action: It includes such conditions under which the administration puts on the hat of the judiciary and confers the special power of taking decisions in cases where legal rights of individuals are affected.
- Purely administrative action or Rule application action: This includes the actions that are neither legislative nor judiciary but purely administrative.
In Article 14 and 21 of the constitution of India, the concept of natural justice is defined in case of consequences suffered in administrative action.
1. Nemo in propria causa judex, esse debit – no one should be made a judge in his cause or the rule against bias.
2. Audi alteram partem – no one should be condemned unheard.
In the case of A.K. Kraipak v. Union of India, the Court held that to determine whether the action of the administrative authority is quasi-judicial or administrative, one has to see the power conferred, to whom power is given, the framework within which power is conferred and the consequences.
CONTROL OF ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION
Administrative actions are controlled by courts in certain circumstances by issuing different writs and thus play an important role in judicial control of administrative actions in India. Article 32(2) states the power of the Supreme Court to issue writs in nature of-
WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
The expression “Habeas Corpus” in Latin means ‘to have the body’. Under this writ, if a person is unlawfully detained, his friends or relatives or any person or any person on behalf of the prisoner or the prisoner himself can file an application in court under Article 226 in the High Court or under Article 32 in the Supreme Court.
Even a letter to the judge mentioning illegalities committed on prisoners in jail can be admitted. If he Court is satisfied with the contents of the application, it will issue the writ and will produce an order calling upon the person who has detained another to produce the same before the Court, to let know the grounds of confinement and set the person free if there is no legal justification and will award exemplary damages.
In the case of Bhim Singh v State of Jammu& Kashmir, AIR 1986 SC 494, the Hon’ble Court awarded exemplary damages of Rs.50,000 for the wrongful confinement.
Sunil Batra v Delhi Administration, AIR 1980 SC 1579, is another landmark judgment,in which a convict wrote a letter to one of the Judges of the Supreme Court alleging inhuman torture and illegalities on a fellow convict.
WRIT OF MANDAMUS
The expression ‘Mandamus’ in Latin means “We Command”. Mandamus is a Judicial order strictly following the rule of rule of Locus Standi. It is issued in the form of a command to any Constitutional, Statutory, or Non-Statutory authority asking to carry out a public duty imposed by law or to refrain from doing a particular act, which the authority is not entitled to do under the law. It is an important writ to check the arbitrariness of an administrative action. It is also called ‘Writ of Justice’.
WRIT OF PROHIBITION
The expression ‘prohibition’ literally means ‘to prohibit’. It is a judicial order issued by the Supreme Court or a High Court to an inferior Court or quasi-judicial body which forbids the inferior courts to continue proceedings and keep themselves within the limits of their jurisdiction. The writ of prohibition can be issued on the following grounds:
(i) Absence or Excess of jurisdiction;
(ii) Violation of the principles of natural justice;
(iii) Unconstitutionality of a Statute;
(iv) Infraction of Fundamental Rights
WRIT OF CERTORI
The expression “certiorari” in Latin word means “to certify”. This writ is a judicial order which confers power on the Supreme Court under Article 32 and High Courts under Article 226 of the Constitution to correct the illegality of their decisions or otherwise quash it.
The grounds on which the writ of certiorari may be issued are:
(a) Error of Jurisdiction- Lack of jurisdiction or Excess of jurisdiction
(b) Abuse of jurisdiction
(c) Error of law apparent on the face of the record
(d) Violation of principles of natural justice
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