Principles of Administrative Law

Administrative Law is the area of public law which aims to promote the responsible exercise of power. In India, this task of oversight is performed by the Courts. How do questions of Administrative Law alter when the State moves from a controlled to a liberalised economy? Is less judicial oversight required in the latter situation or would the Court's mandate to ensure the responsible exercise of power be the same irrespective of the economic policy pursued by the State? Are Courts required to exercise judicial restraint when queries are raised around the policies adopted by the executive? Amita Dhanda in this edition of Jain and Jain's Administrative Law has tracked the evolution of the field as India moved from a controlled to a liberal economy. The Jain and Jain tradition of combining description with critique has been continued by Dhanda. This commentary would be useful for both students and practitioners as it critically documents the various developments in the Principles of Administrative Law.