Module 1 Introduction to Administrative Law: Development of Administrative
Law, Scope of Administrative Law, Relationship between
(Week 1-2)
Administrative Law and Constitutional Law, Scope of Separation of
Power and Rule of Law under the Indian Constitution: Impact on
Administrative Law
Module 2 Classification of Administrative Actions and Executive Law Making
(Week 3-4)
Module 3 Control on Executive Law Making and Administrative Directions
(Parliamentary and Judicial Control)
(Week 5-6)
Module 4 Judicial Review of Administrative Action & Administrative
Discretion
(Week 7-8)
Module 5 Principles of Natural Justice: Fair Hearing & Exceptions, Rule against
Bias
(Week 9-12)
Module 6 Promissory Estoppel and Legitimate Expectation
(Week 13)
Module 7 Administrative Adjudication
(Week 14)
Module 8 Audit Systems
(Week 15)
(Note: This weekly lecture schedule may be revised by the course instructor(s))
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a. Readings
MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION TO ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
Essential readings:
• M. P. Jain & S. N. Jain, Principles of Administrative Law, LexisNexis, 7th ed: Chapter 1
• Paul Craig, Administrative Law, Sweet & Maxwell, 7th ed: Part 1 (Chapter 1 & 2)
• Montesquieu, Spirit of the Laws, Book XI (Separation of Power)
• Martin Loughlin, The Functionalist Style in Public Law, University of Toronto Law
Journal, vol. 55, 2005, p.361
• T.V. Somanathan, The Administrative & Regulatory State, The Oxford Handbook of
Indian Constitution, OUP, 2016
• A.V. Dicey, An Introduction to the study of the Constitution, Universal Law Publishing
Co., 10th ed., pp. 183-205
• Joseph Raz, Rule of Law and its Virtue, The Authority of Law, OUP, 1979, p. 2
• Rai Sahib Ram Jawaya Kapur & Others v. State of Punjab AIR 1955 SC 549
• Additional District Magistrate, Jabalpur v. Shivkant Shukla & Others (1976) 2 SCC 521
Recommended readings:
• Philip Hamburger, Is Administrative Law Unlawful? University of Chicago Press, 2014,
pp. 1-21 (the model of criticism may be used at the end of the course, once the students are
aware of the principles of administrative law or may be used side by side with each module)
• J. Madison, The Federalist Papers, Nos 47-49
• J. Finnis, Natural Law and Natural Rights, Clarendon Law Series, 2nd ed: chapter X, p. 260
• T.R.S. Allan, The Sovereignty of Law, OUP, 2013: Chapters 3 and 5
• J. Ruma Pal, Separation of Powers, The Oxford Handbook of Indian Constitution, OUP,
2016
• Indian Administration by S.R. Maheswari (Orient Black Swan publications) Latest
edition, Chapter 1.
• Administrative thinkers: D. Ravindra Prasad, V. Sivalinga Prasad, P. Satyanarāyaṇa
(Sterling Publishers) Latest edition (with specific focus on Kautilya, Woodrow Wilson
and Max Weber).
MODULE 2: CLASSIFICATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS AND EXECUTIVE
LAW MAKING
I. Classification of Administrative Actions
Essential readings:
• M. P. Jain & S. N. Jain, Principles of Administrative Law, LexisNexis, 7th ed: Chapter 2
II. Executive Law Making
Essential readings:
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American position:
• Field v. Clark, 143 U.S. 649 (1892)
• Panama Refining Co. v Ryan, 293 U.S. 388 (1935)
• L. A. Schechter Poultry Corp. v United States, 295 U.S. 495 (1935)
• National Broadcasting Co., Inc. v United States, 319 U.S. 190 (1943)
Indian position:
• In Re : The Delhi Laws Act, 1912, the Ajmer-Merwara (Extension of Laws) Act, 1947
and the Part C States (Laws) Act, 1950, AIR 1951 SC 332 (focus on the judgements of
Kania, C.J., Fazl Ali & Mukherjee J.J.)
• Hamdard Dawakhana (Wakf) Lal Kuan, Delhi and Another v. Union of India and
Others, AIR 1960 SC 554
• Gwalior Rayon Silk Manufacturing (Weaving) v. Assistant Commissioner of Sales Tax
and Others, AIR 1974 SC 1660
• Rajnarain Singh v. Chairman, Patna Administration Committee, Patna, and Another, AIR
1954 SC 569
• Lachmi Narain Etc. v. Union of India & Ors, AIR 1976 SC 714
• Harishankar Bagla and Another v. State of Madhya Pradesh, AIR 1954 SC 465
• Shama Rao v. Union Territory of Pondicherry, AIR 1967 SC 1480
• Ramesh Birch & Ors. Etc vs Union Of India & Ors. Etc 1990 AIR 560
• Jalan Trading Company (Private Limited ) v. Mill Mazdoor Union, AIR 1967 SC 691
• Gammon India Limited and Others v. Union of India & Ors. etc., AIR 1974 SC 960
Recommended readings and Cases:
• Lalit Kumar Jain vs. Union of Indian and Others, (2021) 9 SCC 321
• M. P. Jain & S. N. Jain, Principles of Administrative Law, LexisNexis, 7th ed: Chapter 3
• S. P. Sathe, Administrative Law, LexisNexis, 7th ed: Chapter 2
• Paul Craig, Administrative Law, Sweet & Maxwell, 7th ed: Chapter 15
MODULE 3: CONTROL ON EXECUTIVE LAW MAKING (LEGISLATIVE CONTROL
AND JUDICIAL CONTROL)
Essential readings:
Doctrine of Ultra Vires:
• Atlas Cycles v. State of Haryana, AIR 1979 SC 1149
• Dwarka Nath v. Municipal Corporation of Delhi, AIR 1971 SC 1844
• V. Sudeer v. Bar Council of India, AIR 1999 SC 1167 overruled by Bar Council of India
v. Bonnie Foi Law College & Ors. Civil Appeal No. 969 of 2023 (Arising out of SLP (C)
No. 22337 of 2008)
• Harla v. State of Rajasthan, AIR 1951 SC 467
• Raza Buland Sugar Co. Ltd. v. Municipal Board, Rampur, AIR 1965 SC 895
• Govindlal Chhaggan Lal Patel v. Agricultural Produce Market Committee, Godhra and
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Others, AIR 1976 SC 263
• Banwarilal Agarwalla v. State of Bihar and Others, AIR 1961 SC 849
• Naraindas Indurkhya v. State of Madhya Pradesh and Others v State of Madhya Pradesh,
AIR 1974 SC 1232
• M/s. Pankaj Jain Agencies v. Union Of India And Other, AIR 1995 SC 360 & Collectors
of Central Excise v. Tobacco Company Etc (1998) 8 SCC 250 & UOI v. Ganesh Das
Bhojraj AIR 2000 SC 1102 (read together)
Recommended Cases:
• Air India v. Nargesh Meerza AIR 1981 SC 1829
• Chintaman Rao v. State of Madhya Pradesh AIR 1951 SC 118
Retrospective Application:
• State of Madhya Pradesh v. Tikamdas AIR 1975 SC 1429
• B. S. Yadav v. State of Haryana, AIR 1981 SC 561
• A. V. Nachane v. Union of India AIR 1982 SC 1126
• Miss Raj Soni v. Air Officer In-Charge AIR 1990 SC 1305
• Union of India v. G S Chatha Rice Mills, 2020 SCC OnLine SC 770
Administrative Directions:
• M. P. Jain & S. N. Jain, Principles of Administrative Law, LexisNexis, 7th ed: Chapter VII
• Kumari Regina v. St. Aloysius Higher Elementary School and Another, AIR 1971 SC 1920
• K. M. Shanmugam v. S. R. V. S. Private Limited and Others, AIR 1963 SC 1626
• Union of India v. K. P. Joseph and Others, AIR 1973 SC 303
• B.S. Minhas v. Indian Statistical Institute & Ors., AIR 1984 SC 363
• State of Uttar Pradesh v. Chandra Mohan Nigam and Others, AIR 1977 SC 2411
Recommended readings:
• M. P. Jain & S. N. Jain, Principles of Administrative Law, LexisNexis, 7th ed: Ch 4,5 & 6.
• C.K. Takwani, Lectures on Administrative Law, EBC, 4th ed: Chapter V
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MODULE 4: JUDICIAL REVIEW OF ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION &
ADMINISTRATIVE DISCRETION
Essential readings:
Grounds of Judicial Review over Administrative Discretion:
• Hukam Chand Shyam Lal v. Union Of India And Ors, AIR 1976 SC 789
• Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia v. State of Bihar and Others, AIR 1966 SC 740
• Ashadevi, Wife of Gopal Ghermal Mehta (Detenu) v. K. Shiveraj, Addl. Chief Secretary
to the Government of Gujarat, (1979) 1 SCC 222
• Commissioner of Police, Bombay v. Gordhandas Bhanji, AIR 1952 SC 16
• Kesavan Bhaskaran v. State of Kerala, AIR 1961 Ker 23
Recommended Readings:
• M. P. Jain & S. N. Jain, Principles of Administrative Law, LexisNexis, 7th ed: Chapter
15,16 & 17.
• Craig P.P., Administrative Law (6th edition, Sweet & Maxwell 2008): Chapter 18 &19
Standard of Review:
• M. P. Jain & S. N. Jain, Principles of Administrative Law, LexisNexis, 7th ed: Chapter 25
• Craig P.P., Administrative Law (6th edition, Sweet & Maxwell 2008): Chapter 21
• Associated Provincial Picture Houses Ltd v. Wednesbury Corporation (1948) 1 KB 223
• Om Kumar v. UOI 2000 (7) SCALE 524
• Stavros Tsakyrakis, Proportionality: An Assault on Human Rights? 7(3) International
Journal of Constitutional Law 468-493 (2009)
• Madhava Khosla, Proportionality: An Assault on Human Rights? A Reply 8(2)
International Journal of Constitutional Law 298-306 (2010)
MODULE 5: PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL JUSTICE
Essential readings:
Classification of Executive Actions:
• M. P. Jain & S. N. Jain, Principles of Administrative Law, LexisNexis, 7th ed: Chapter 3
• C.K. Takwani, Lectures on Administrative Law, EBC, 4th ed: Chapter III
• Indian National Congress v. Institute of Social Workers (2002) 5 SCC 685
Fair Hearing & Exceptions:
• S. P. Sathe, Administrative Law, LexisNexis, 7th edn: Chapter 5
• Paul Craig, Administrative Law, Sweet & Maxwell, 7th edn: Part 1(Chapter 12)
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• State of Orissa v. Dr. Binapani, AIR 1967 SC 1269
• G. Kondala Rao v. Registrar, Shri Venkateswara University, AIR 1995 AP 338
• Suresh Koshy v. University of Kerala, AIR 1969 SC 198
• Managing Director, ECL v. B. Karunakar, AIR 1994 SC 1074
• Ravi S. Naik v. Union of India, AIR 1994 SC 1558
• State of Jammu and Kashmir v. Bakshi Gulam Muhammad, AIR 1967 SC 122
• Hira Nath Mishra v. The Principal, Rajendra Medical College, AIR 1973 SC 1260
• J. K. Agarwal v. Haryana Seeds Development Corporation, (1991) 2 SCC 283
• S. N. Mukherjee v. Union of India, AIR 1990 SC 1984
• Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India, (1978) 1 SCC 248 (restrict yourselves only to the law
on post-decisional hearing)
• Swadeshi Cotton Mills v. Union of India, (1981) 1 SCC 664
• K. I. Shepherd v. Union of India, (1987) 4 SCC 431
• Canara Bank v. V. K. Awasthy, (2005) 6 SCC 321
• Charanlal Sahu v. Union of India, 1990 (1) SCC 613
Rule against Bias:
• Paul Craig, Administrative Law, Sweet & Maxwell, 7th edn: Chapter 14
• A.K. Kraipak v. Union of India, AIR 1970 SC 150
• J. Mohapatra and Co v. State of Orissa AIR 1984 SC 1572
• D. K. Khanna v. Union of India AIR 1973 HP 30
• Manak Lal v. Dr. Prem Chand AIR 1957 SC 425
• Mineral Development Limited v. State of Bihar AIR 1960 SC 468
• State of Uttar Pradesh v. Mohammad Nooh AIR 1958 SC 86
• S. Parthasarathi v. State of Andhra Pradesh AIR 1973 SC 2701
• G.N. Nayak v. Goa University, AIR 2002 SC 790
• Gullapalli Nageswara Rao v. APSRTC case I (only the parts of the judgment that relate to
bias): AIR 1959 SC 308
• Gullapalli Nageswara Rao v. APSRTC case II AIR 1959 SC 1376
• Ashok Kumar Yadav v. State of Haryana, AIR 1987 SC 454.
• Tata Cellular v. Union of India 1994 (6) SCC 651
• Election Commission v. Dr. Subramanian Swamy AIR 1996 SC 1810
Recommended Readings:
• M. P. Jain & S. N. Jain, Principles of Administrative Law, LexisNexis, 7th ed: Chapter
8,9 & 10.
MODULE 6: LEGITIMATE EXPECTATIONS AND PROMISSORY ESTOPPEL
Essential readings:
• M. P. Jain & S. N. Jain, Principles of Administrative Law, LexisNexis, 7th ed: Chapter 22
& 23
• Paul Craig, Administrative Law, Sweet & Maxwell, 7th ed: Chapter 22
6
• M/S Motilal Padampat Sugar Mills v. State of U. P. AIR 1979 SC 621
• M. R. F. Ltd., Kottayam Ltd. Assistant Commissioner Sales Tax (2006) 8 SCC 702
• Navjyoti Co-Operative Housing Society v. Union of India AIR 1993 SC 155
• Punjab Communications Ltd. v. Union of India (1999) 2 SCR 1033
• The State of Jharkhand and Ors. vs. Brahmputra Metallics Ltd., Ranchi and Anr,
2023 10 SCC 634 (specifically paras – 38-51)
Recommended readings:
• P. Sales and K. Steyn, Legitimate Expectations in English Public Law: An Analysis [2004]
PL 564, 569.
• Y. Dotan, Why Administrators should be Bound by their Policies (1977) 17 OJLS 2
• Chintan Chandrachud, The Fictitious doctrine of substantive Legitimate expectations in
India, available at: [Link]
MODULE 7: ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUDICATION
Essential readings:
• L Chandra Kumar (1997) 3 SCC 261
• Madras Bar Association v. Union of India, 2014 SCC Online 771. Also available at
[Link]
Recommended readings:
• Law Commission Report No. 215
• M. P. Jain & S. N. Jain, Principles of Administrative Law, LexisNexis, 7th ed: Chapter 18
& 19.
• Michael Asimow, Five Models of Administrative Adjudication (Social Science Research
Network 2014) SSRN Scholarly Paper ID 2502210
• Alok Kumar and Faiza Rahman, Halting Tribunalisation, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy
• Reforming Tribunal System: An Interim Report, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy
MODULE 8: AUDIT SYSTEMS
Essential readings:
Comptroller and Auditor General, CVC and CBI
• Centre for PIL v. Union of India 2011
Lok Pal and Lokayuktas
• The Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013
Right to Information
• Amended RTI v. Participatory Democracy: EPW Vol. 54, Issue No. 30, 27 Jul, 2019
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Recommended readings:
• M. P. Jain & S. N. Jain, Principles of Administrative Law, LexisNexis, 7th ed Chapter 26.
• S.K. Das, Institutions of Internal Accountability in D. Kapur and P.B. Mehta, Public
Institutions in India: Performance and Design (Oxford 2007) pp. 128-156
• Tremor of Unwelcome Amendments: [Link]
tremor-of-unwelcome-amendments/[Link]
• Nikhil Dey and Aruna Roy, The RTI Story (selected chapters)
