Importance Of Administrative Law

Administrative Law has been characterised as the most “outstanding legal development of the twentieth century”. As a branch of law, it pertains to decision making of various administrative entities of the government (boards, tribunals or commissions) which are part of nation-wide schemes such as trade, taxation, transport, and policing laws. Administrative law have been existence in different forms wherever there has been countries or states being related to public administration. Over the years, administrative law has become one of the branches of Constitutional law as it is an apt subject matter of distinct study which resulted from the tremendous growth of administrative powers and function. The increasing number of government agencies by the legislative bodies is one of the reasons it has expanded tremendously. It has taken over projects which were previously under private enterprises like railways and postal services in India. Post-independence, the concept of social welfare has emerged leading to social activism and acquiring the functions of the above mentioned enterprises.

Sir Ivor Jennings state that the “Administrative Law is the law relating to the administration. It determines the organisation, powers, duties of the administrative authorities.” The principles of natural justice can be summarised in one word: fairness. The two basic principles of natural justice are the following: Nemo judex in causa sua – no man shall be a judge in his own cause, or the