ADMINISTRATIVE LAW ASSIGNMENT

Dr. SHAKUNTALA MISRA NATIONAL REHABILITATION

UNIVERSITY, LUCKNOW

Administrative Law Assignment

ON
“WRITS”

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF GULAB RAI

SUBMITTED TO SUBMITTED BY
GULAB RAI DEVANAND PANDEY
Assistant Professor 6TH Semester
Faculty of Law Faculty of Law
D.S.M.N.R.U. D.S.M.N.R.U

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to thanks Professor Dr. Gulab Rai for providing me an opportunity
to gain some of the basic information related to “WRITS” through this
assignment.

Here, I would also like to thank my friends and well wishers who helped me out
at every problem which I faced during the completion of this assignment.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction………………………………………………………………..4-5
2. Origin of Writs………………………………………………………………6
4. Writs……………………………………………………………………….7-9
5. Constitutional provisions………………………………………………..10-11
6. Role of writs in administrative actions.....................................................12-13
7. Application of Writs in Administrative Law…………………………….14-17
8. Conclusion………………………………………………………………….18
9. Bibliography………………………………………………………………..19

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INTRODUCTION

Administrative law has greatly demarcated the checks, balances and permissible
area of an exercise of power, authority and jurisdiction over administrative
actions enforced by the any State, Governmental agencies and instrumentalities
defined under Article 12 of the Constitution of India. And the judiciary is
dynamically carving the principles and exceptions, while making the judicial
review of administrative actions.

Two important aspects of administrative law are the control mechanism over the
administration and relief when the legal right of an individual is infringed by
any administrative action. To ensure control and relief, judiciary plays a
significant role. Judicial control over administrative authorities prevents the
exercise of arbitrariness and ensures the application of rule of law. There are a
myriad of principles put forward by the courts for regulating the functions of the
administrative bodies in different dimensions and it has greatly contributed to
the growth of administrative law. The Constitution of India has provided for the
system of Writs under Article 32 and 226 to enforce fundamental rights. These
provisions empower the Supreme Court and the High Courts of India to issue
Writs. A Writ is a judicial order in the form of a formal written command,
issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act by the
defendant. If any adequate alternative remedy is available, the court may refuse
to exercise its Writ jurisdiction where an issue of enforcement of fundamental
right is not involved.

The administrative law is that branch of law that keeps the governmental actions
within the bounds of law or to put it negatively, it prevents the enforcement of
blatantly bad orders from being derogatory.

The Courts have constantly tried to protect the liberties of the people and
assume powers under the Constitution for judicial review of administrative
actions. The discretionary powers have to be curbed, if they are misused or
abused. The socio-politic Institution need not cry, if the courts do justice and
perform the substantial role. That is the essence of justice. It is submitted, the

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trend is to read the social justice and to translate in reality. The welfare State
has to discharge its duty fairly without any arbitrary and discriminatory
treatment to the people in the country. If such powers come to the notice of the
Courts, the courts have raised the arms consistently with the rule of law. Today
the Government is the provider of social services; new form of property like
jobs, quotas, licenses and mineral rights etc. The dispenser of special services
cannot therefore act arbitrarily. Courts laid the standard of reasonableness in
Governmental action.

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ORIGIN OF WRITS

The origin of writs can be drawn from the English Judicial system and were
created with the development of English folk courts-moots to the common law
courts. The law of writs has its origin from the orders passed by the King‟s

Bench in England. Writs were issued on a petition presented to the king in

council and were considered as a royal order. Writs were a written order issued
in the name of the king which acted as groundwork for the subsequent
proceedings. However, with different segments writs took various forms and
names. The writs were issued by the crown and in the interest of the crown but
with the passage of time it became available for ordinary citizens also. However
a prescribed fee was charged for it and the filing of these writs were known as
Purchase of a writ.

Historical Background

The origin of writs in India goes back to the Regulating Act, 1773 under which
Supreme Court was established at Calcutta. The charter also established other
High courts and these High Courts had analogous power to issue writs as
successor to the Supreme Court. The other courts which were established
subsequently did not enjoy this power. The writ jurisdiction of these courts was
limited to their original civil jurisdiction which they enjoyed under section 45 of
the Specific Relief Act, 1877.

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WRITS

Certiorari

Certiorari is a Latin term being in the passive form of the word

“Certiorare” meaning to inform. It was a royal demand for information.
Certiorari can be described as “one of the most valuable and efficient
remedies.” Certiorari is one of the five prerogative writs adopted by the
Indian Constitution under Article 226 which would be enforced against
the decisions of the authority exercising judicial or quasi judicial powers.
Such powers are exercised when the authorities have failed to exercise
the jurisdiction though vested in it or failed to exercise the jurisdiction
though vested on him or to correct the apparent error on the face of record
or there is violation of the principle of natural justice. An instance
showing the certiorari powers was exercised by the Hon’ble Supreme
court in A.K.Kraipak v. Union of India1, where the selection was
challenged on the ground of bias. The Supreme Court delineated the
distinction between quasi judicial and administrative authority. The
Supreme Court exercising the powers issued the writ of Certiorari for
quashing the action.

Prohibition

The writ of Prohibition is issued by the court exercising the power and
authorities from continuing the proceedings as basically such authority
has no power or jurisdiction to decide the case. Prohibition is an extra
ordinary prerogative writ of a preventive nature. The underlying principle
is that „prevention is better than cure.‟ In East India Commercial Co.
Ltd v. Collector of Customs2, a writ of prohibition is an order directed
to an inferior Tribunal forbidding it from continuing with a proceeding
therein on the ground that the proceeding is without or in excess of
jurisdiction or contrary to the laws of the land, statutory or otherwise.

1
AIR 1970 SC 150
2
AIR 1960 Cal 1

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Mandamus

Mandamus is a judicial remedy which is in the form of an order from a

superior court to any Government agency, court or public authority to do
or forbear from doing any specific act which that body is obliged to do
under the law. The writ of mandamus is issued whenever the public
authorities fail to perform the statutory duties confirmed on them. Such
writ is issued to perform the duties as provided by the state under the
statute or forbear or restrain from doing any specific act. The first case
reported on the writ of mandamus was the Middletone case in 1573
wherein a citizen’s franchise was restored. The writ of mandamus can be
issued if the public authority vested with power abuses the power or acts
mala fide to it. In Halsbury’s Laws of England, it is mentioned that,

“As a general rule the order will not be granted unless the party
complained of has known what it was required to do, so that he had the
means of considering whether or not he should comply, and it must be
shown by evidence that there was a distinct demand of that which the
party seeking the mandamus desires to enforce and that that demand was
met by a refusal.”
Quo Warranto

Quo Warranto means “by what warrant or authority”. Quo Warranto writ
is issued against the person of public who occupies the public seat
without any qualification for the appointment. It is issued to restrain the
authority or candidate from discharging the functions of public office. In

University of Mysore v. Govinda Rao3, the Supreme Court observed that

the procedure of quo Warrato confers the jurisdiction and authority on the
judiciary to control executive action in making the appointments to public
offices against the relevant statutory provisions; it also protects a citizen
being deprived of public office to which he may have a right.
3
1965 AIR 491

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Habeas Corpus

The Latin term Habeas Corpus means „have the body‟. The incalculable
value of habeas corpus is that it enables the immediate determination of
the right of the appellant‟s freedom”. The writ of Habeas Corpus is a
process for securing liberty to the party for illegal and unjustifiable
detention. It objects for providing a prompt and effective remedy against
illegal restraints. The writ of Habeas Corpus can be filled by any person
on behalf of person detained or by the detained person himself. It is a
judicial order issued by Supreme Court or High Court through which a
person confined may secure his release. The writ of Habeas Corpus can
be filed by any person on behalf of the other person. In Icchu Devi v.
Union of India4, the Supreme Court held that in a case of writ of Habeas
corpus there are no strict observances of the rules of burden of proof.
Even a post card by any pro bono public is satisfactory to galvanize the
court into examining the legality of detention. In A.D.M. Jabalpur v.
Shivakant Shukla5, it was observed that “the writ of Habeas Corpus is a
process for securing the liberty of the subject by affording an effective
means of immediate relief from unlawful or unjustifiable detention
whether in prison or private custody. By it the High Court and the judges
of that court at the instance of a subject aggrieved command the
production of that subject and inquire into the cause of his imprisonment.
If there is no legal justification for that detention, then the party is ordered
to be released.”

4
1980 AIR 1983
5
(1976)2 SCC 521

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CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS

The makers of the Constitution have adopted the English remedies in the
Constitution under Articles 32 and 226. There has been specifically made
provisions in the Constitution which empowers the Supreme Court and High
Courts to issue writs in the nature of Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition,
Quo Warranto and Certiorari. The fundamental rights which are inalienable
sacrosanct in nature and character which were conceived in national and public
interest could be illusory if there is no constitutional machinery provided for its
enforcement. Unless such constitutional remedies for its enforcement is not
provided the rights guaranteed by part III of the Constitution cannot be ever
implemented by the citizens. Article 32 contained in Part III is itself a
fundamental right given to the person under the Constitution. Similarly Article
226 of the Constitution is conferred on the High Courts to exercise its
prerogative writs which can be issued against any person or body of person
including the government. The distinction between the two remedies is very
negligible. The remedy under Article 32 is confined to enforcement of
fundamental rights whereas Article 226 is available not only against the
enforcement of fundamental rights but also for any other purpose. Thus the
constitution provides the discretionary remedies on the High Court and the
Supreme Court. In the absence of the provisions of such remedies no one can
enforce its rights given. Thus wherever there is a right there must be a remedy
for it. Thus it should satisfy the maxim, “ubi jus ibi remedium”.

One of the principle makers of the constitution, Dr. Ambedkar has given the
prime importance to Article 32 among all other articles from the Indian

Constitution. He has referred that, “It is the very soul of the Constitution and the
very heart of it.”

In Devilal v. STO ,it has been marked that, “There can be no doubt that the

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Fundamental Rights, guaranteed to the citizens are a significant feature of our

Constitution and the High Court’s under Article 226 are bound to protect these
Fundamental Rights.

Justice Subbarao in the case of Basheshwar Nath v. Commissioner, Income

Tax6 , stated that,

“A large majority of people are socially poor educationally backward and

politically yet not conscious of their rights, cannot be pitted against the state or
the institution or they cannot be put on equal status with the state or large
organizations. The people are requires to be protected from themselves. It is
therefore the duty of the court to protect their rights and interests. Fundamental
rights are therefore transcendental in nature and created and enacted in national
and public interest and therefore they cannot be waived.”

In Daryao v. State of U.P7., it was held that the right to obtain a writ must
equally be a fundamental right when a petitioner presents the case. Thus, it
cannot merely be considered as an individual’s right to move the Supreme Court
but it is also the duty and responsibility of the Supreme Court to protect the
fundamental rights.

6
1959 AIR 149
7
1961 AIR 1457

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ROLE OF WRITS IN ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS

Now as far as the role of the writs is concerned, let us go by illustration over the
cases on discretion. Conferment of discretionary powers has been accepted as
necessary phenomena of modern administrative and constitutional machinery.
Law making agency legislates the law on any subject to serve the public interest
and while making law, it has become indispensable to provide for discretionary
powers that are subject to judicial review. The rider is that the Donnie of the
discretionary power has to exercise the discretion in good faith and for the
purpose for which it is granted and subject to limitations prescribed under the
Act. The Courts have retained their jurisdiction to test the Statute on the ground
of reasonableness. Mostly, the courts review on two counts; firstly whether the
statute is substantively valid piece of legislation and, secondly whether the
statute provides procedural safeguards. If these two tests are not found, the law
is declared ultra vires and void of Article 14 of the Constitution.

Beside this, Courts control the discretionary powers of the executive

government being exercised after the statutes have come to exist. Once they
come into existence, it becomes the duty of the Executive Government to
regulate the powers within limitations prescribed to achieve the object of the
Statute. The discretionary powers entrusted to the different executives of the
Government play substantial role in administrative decision making and
immediately the settled principles of administrative law trap the exercise of
powers. If these discretionary powers are not properly exercised, or there is
abuse and misuse of powers by the executives or they take into account
irrelevant consideration for that they are not entitled to take or simply misdirect
them in applying the proper provision of law, the discretionary exercise of
powers is void. Judicial review is excluded when it is found that executives
maintain the standard of reasonableness in their decisions. Errors are often crept
in either because they would maintain pure administrative spirit as opposed to
judicial flavour or that they influence their decisions by some irrelevant
considerations or that sometimes, the authorities may themselves misdirect in
law or that they may not apply their mind to the facts and circumstances of the
cases. Besides, this aspect, they may act in derogation of fundamental principles
of natural justice by not conforming to the standard or reasons and justice or

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those they do not just truly appreciate the existence or non existence of
circumstances that may entitle them to exercise the discretion.

“The Executive have to reach their decisions by taking into account relevant
considerations. They should not refuse to consider relevant matter nor should
they take into account considerations that are wholly irrelevant or extraneous.
They should not misdirect themselves on a point of law. Only such a decision
will be lawful. The courts have power to see that the Executive acts lawfully.
They cannot avoid scrutiny by courts by failing to give reasons. If they give
reasons and they are not good reasons, the court can direct them to reconsider
the matter in the light of relevant matters though the propriety adequacy or
satisfactory character of these reasons may not be open to judicial scrutiny.
Even if the Executive considers it inexpedient to exercise their powers they
should state their reasons and there must be material to show that they have
considered all the relevant facts.”

The role of writs is also sensibly laid down in a famous Padfield’s case:

In England in earlier days the Courts usually refused to interfere where the
Government or the concerned officer passed what was called a non-speaking
order, that is, an order which on the face of it did not specify the reasons for the
orders. Where a speaking order was passed the Courts proceeded to consider
whether the reasons given for the order or decision were relevant reasons.
Where there was a non-speaking order they used to say that it was like the face
of the Sphinx in the sense that it was incurable and therefore hold that they
could not consider the question of the validity of the order. Even in England the
Courts have travelled very far since those days. They no longer find the face of
the Sphinx inscrutable.

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APPLICATION OF WRITS IN ADMINISTRATIVE LAW

Application of the Writ of Certiorari

The writ of Certiorari is basically issued against the statutory bodies

exercising judicial or quasi judicial powers. Such writ is issued against
the authorities namely the government and the courts or other statutory
bodies who have power to determine and decide the lis between the
parties. In deciding such issues if the decision making order is passed
without any authority or has passed the order in exercise of such authority
or has committed an error of law and facts the high court is empowered to
correct such error of the lower court or government authorities. Certiorari
may apply when the administrative or executive authority fails to observe
their duty to act fairly with respect to the administrative functions. The
writ of Certiorari may also be issued against a subordinate tribunal even if
the decision impugned is pronounced. A leading case of Ryots of
Garabandho v. Zamindar of Parlakimedi8, was the first decision on the
writ of Certiorari.

Application of the Writ of Mandamus

The writ of mandamus is ordered when the statutory authorities who

entrusted with the duties fail to discharge its obligatory duty. It may be
applied when the government authorities vested with absolute powers fail
to perform their administrative and statutory duties. In Ratlam Municipal
Council v. Vardichand9, on account of the public nuisance created in the
area by the corporation in not maintaining the drainage system and the
dirty water stinking had clogged around which obviously created
nuisance at the hands of municipality for not discharging the duties under
the act. As a result the residents of Ratlam municipality moved the Sub-
divisional magistrate under section 133 of Code of Criminal Procedure,
1973 for abatement of nuisance and the court issued the directions that,

8
(1945) 47 BOMLR 525
9
AIR 1980 SC 1622

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“Judicial discretion when facts for its exercise are present has a
mandatory import. Therefore when the Sub-Divisional Magistrate,
Ratlam, has before him information and evidence which disclose the
presence of public nuisance, considers it lawful to remove such
obstruction. This is a public duty implicit in the public power to be
exercised on behalf of the public and is pursuant to public proceeding.”

Lord Denning observed:

“In my opinion every genuine complaint which is worthy of investigation by the

committee of investigation should be referred to that committee. The Minister is
not at liberty to refuse it on grounds which are arbitrary or capricious. Not
because he has a personal antipathy to the compliant or does not like his
political views. Nor on any other irrelevant ground... It is said that the decision
of the Minister is administrative and not judicial. But that does not mean that he
can do as he likes, regardless of right or wrong. Nor does it mean that the Courts
are powerless to correct him. Good administration requires that complaints
should be investigated and that grievance should be remedied. When parliament
has set up machinery for that very purpose, it is not for the Minister to brush it
on one side. He should not refuse to have a complaint investigated without good
reason... But it is said that the Minister is not bound to give any reason at all.
And if he gives no reason, his refusal cannot be questioned. So why does it
matter if he gives bad reason? I do not agree. This is the only remedy available
to a person aggrieved… Else why did it set up a committee of investigation?
Minister… would at least have good reasons for refusal; and if asked, he should
give them. If he does not do so, the court may infer that he has no good reasons.
If it appears to the Court that the Minister has been, or must have been,
influenced by extraneous considerations which ought not to have influenced
him or, conversely, has failed, or must have failed, to take into account
considerations which ought to have influenced him. The court has power to
interfere; it can issue a mandamus to compel him to consider the complaint
properly.”

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Application of the Writ of Prohibition

The writ of Prohibition is issued essentially against the government or its

authorities when they are not conferred with the power or jurisdiction to
decide the dispute. The court by virtue of this power restrains the
authority to exercise such powers which are not given to the authority.

Application of the Writ of Quo Warranto

The high Court would exercise the power of Quo Warranto against the
public authority or government who acts contrary to the provisions of the
statute and restrains the authority or public servant from usurping the
public office on account of lack of qualification. It is a means of asserting
sovereign right. In Sonu Sampat v. Jalgaon Borough Municipality10 , “If
the appointment of an officer is illegal, every day that he acts in that
office, a fresh cause of action arises and there can be therefore no
question of delay in presenting a petition for quo warranto in which his
very, right to act in such a responsible post has been questioned.”

Application of the Writ of Habeas Corpus

The writ of Habeas Corpus is a writ issued in order to protect the liberty
and freedom which is conceived to be very vital. It is issued against the
wrongful detention or confinement through the police authority. By virtue
of this writ the police authorities or other such statutory authorities are
empowered to bring the custody of the person who has been wrongfully
detained by the court of law. In the case of State of Bihar v. Kameshwar
Singh11 it was stated that, the writ of Habeas Corpus is in the nature of an
order for calling upon the person who has detained or arrested another
person to produce the latter before the court, in order to let court know on
what ground he has been confined and to set him free if there is no legal
justification for the imprisonment. One of the telling ways in which the

10
(1957) 59 BOMLR 1088
11
1959 AIR 1303

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violation of that right can reasonably be prevented and due compliance

with the mandate of article 21 secured, is to mulct its violators in the
payment of monetary compensation.

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CONCLUSION

The prerogative powers of writ jurisdiction conferred by the constitution for

judicial review of administrative action is undoubtedly discretionary and yet
unbounded in its limits. The discretion however should be exercised on sound
legal principles. In this respect it is important to emphasize that the absence of
arbitrary power is the first essential of the rule of law upon which the whole
constitution system is based. In a system governed by rule of law when
discretion is conferred upon the executive authorities it must be based on clearly
defied limits. Thus the rule of law from this point of view means that the
discretion or the decision must be based on some principles and rules. In general
the decision should be predictable and citizens should know where he is. If a
decision is taken not on the basis of any principle or rules then such decision is
arbitrary and is taken not in accordance with the rule of law.

The law has reached its finest moments stated Duglas, C.J. in United States v.
Wunderlich12 when it has freed man from the shackles of unlimited discretion.
The man has suffered on account of absolute discretion. The decision should be
guided by rule of law and it should not be based on whims, fancy and humour.

The Constitution is the law of the laws and nobody is supreme. Even the judges
of Supreme Court are not above law and they are bound by the decisions which
are the law of the land declared by them under the writ petitions. Thus, the
constitutional remedies provided under the constitution operate as a check and
keeps the administration of government within the bounds of law.

12
342 U.S. 98 (1951)

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

BOOKS
1. Lectures on Administrative Law, Takwani C.K.
2. Administrative Law, Sathe S.P.
3. Administrative Law, Dr. Upadhay J.J.R.

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