Administrative law is one of the highest scoring subjects in judicial services, APO, UGC NET Law and other competitive law exams, yet most aspirants lose marks simply because they try to memorise long paragraphs instead of crisp concepts. These Administrative Law One Liner Notes are built for exactly that problem. Every entry below is framed as a direct question and a short, exam ready answer so you can revise the entire subject in one sitting, during a train journey, or in the last thirty minutes before your paper.

Unlike generic notes copied from old lecture PDFs, this guide is organised topic by topic, follows the actual syllabus pattern used by judiciary coaching institutes, and includes the case laws, doctrines and constitutional articles examiners repeatedly test. Whether you are preparing for state judicial services, Delhi Judicial Service, Bihar Judiciary, UP PCS J, or UGC NET Law, this page is designed to work as both a first read and a final revision sheet.

What Is Administrative Law? A Quick Overview

Before jumping into the one liners, it helps to fix the core idea in your mind. Administrative law is that branch of public law which deals with the organisation, powers, functions, duties and procedures of administrative authorities, and it lays down the remedies available to a citizen when those authorities act beyond their legal limits. In simple words, it is the law that keeps the executive accountable.

Administrative law overlaps heavily with constitutional law, but the two are not identical. Constitutional law describes the general structure and powers of the state, while administrative law focuses on how that power is actually exercised on a day to day basis by government departments, statutory corporations, regulatory bodies and tribunals.

Administrative Law One Liner Notes

Use the sections below like flashcards. Read the question, try to recall the answer yourself, then check it against the note.

Meaning, Nature and Scope

• What is administrative law? It is the branch of public law that governs the organisation, powers, functions and control of administrative authorities.
• According to Ivor Jennings, what does administrative law deal with? The organisation, functions, powers and duties of administrative authorities.
• What did K.C. Davis define administrative law as? The law concerning the powers and procedures of administrative agencies, including judicial review of their actions.
• Is administrative law a branch of public law or private law? It is a branch of public law.
• What relationship does administrative law primarily regulate? The relationship between the state and private individuals.
• Why has administrative law grown rapidly since independence? Because the state has shifted from a police state to a welfare state, expanding its regulatory and welfare functions.
• What is the main object of administrative law? To keep the powers of the government within legal bounds so citizens are protected from arbitrary action.
• What are the three broad aspects covered by administrative law? The powers of administrative authorities, the procedure they follow, and the remedies available against their action.
• Is administrative law codified in India? No, it is largely uncodified and has developed mainly through judicial decisions.
• Who is called the father of Indian administrative law? Justice M.P. Jain, though some also credit early contributions to Sir Ivor Jennings for shaping its academic study in India.

Rule of Law

• Who propounded the modern doctrine of Rule of Law? A.V. Dicey, in his book Introduction to the Study of the Law of the Constitution.
• What are Dicey’s three elements of Rule of Law? Supremacy of law, equality before law, and predominance of legal spirit.
• What does the first element of Rule of Law state? No person can be punished except for a distinct breach of law established before ordinary courts.
• What does equality before law under Dicey’s theory mean? Every person, whether an official or a private citizen, is subject to the same law administered by the same courts.
• Which Indian constitutional article reflects the idea of equality before law? Article 14 of the Constitution of India.
• Is Rule of Law a rigid or flexible concept in India? It is flexible and has been read into the basic structure of the Constitution.
• In which case did the Supreme Court hold Rule of Law to be part of the basic structure? Indira Nehru Gandhi versus Raj Narain, 1975.
• What criticism is commonly raised against Dicey’s theory? It ignored the existence and necessity of discretionary powers in a modern welfare state.

Separation of Powers

• Who is associated with the classical theory of Separation of Powers? Montesquieu, in his work The Spirit of the Laws.
• Does India follow a strict or flexible separation of powers? A flexible separation of powers with checks and balances among organs.
• Which case confirmed separation of powers as part of the basic structure in India? Kesavananda Bharati versus State of Kerala, 1973.
• Can the legislature delegate its essential legislative functions? No, essential legislative functions cannot be delegated, only ancillary or subsidiary functions can be.
• What is the significance of Ram Jawaya Kapur versus State of Punjab? It held that Indian Constitution does not strictly follow separation of powers but each organ should function within its own sphere.

Delegated Legislation

• What is delegated legislation? Law made by an executive authority under powers delegated by the legislature through a parent statute.
• What is another name for delegated legislation? Subordinate legislation.
• Why has delegated legislation increased in modern governance? Due to lack of legislative time, technicality of subjects, need for flexibility, and emergency situations.
• What is a Henry VIII clause? A provision in a statute that empowers the executive to amend or repeal the parent Act itself.
• What are the two broad types of control over delegated legislation? Parliamentary control and judicial control.
• What is the doctrine of excessive delegation? A rule that delegated legislation is invalid if the legislature delegates its essential legislative function without laying down policy guidelines.
• In which landmark case did the Supreme Court strike down a provision for excessive delegation? In re Delhi Laws Act case, 1951.
• What is the laying procedure? A parliamentary control mechanism requiring delegated legislation to be placed before Parliament before it takes effect.

Administrative Tribunals

• What is an administrative tribunal? A quasi-judicial body established by statute to adjudicate disputes arising from administrative action, usually in specialised areas.
• Under which constitutional article were Administrative Tribunals introduced in India? Article 323A, inserted by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment, 1976.
• Which statute established the Central Administrative Tribunal? The Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985.
• What is the difference between a court and a tribunal? Courts are part of the traditional judicial hierarchy while tribunals are specialised bodies created by statute with limited jurisdiction.
• Which case restored the power of judicial review over tribunal decisions by High Courts? L. Chandra Kumar versus Union of India, 1997.
• What did L. Chandra Kumar hold about tribunal orders? They are subject to scrutiny by a division bench of the jurisdictional High Court under Articles 226 and 227.

Judicial Review of Administrative Action

• What is judicial review? The power of courts to examine the legality of administrative and legislative action and to declare it void if it violates the Constitution or the law.
• Which constitutional articles empower the higher judiciary to conduct judicial review? Articles 32 and 226 of the Constitution of India.
• What is the doctrine of ultra vires? A doctrine under which an administrative action is void if it exceeds the powers conferred by the parent statute.
• What are the two kinds of ultra vires? Substantive ultra vires and procedural ultra vires.
• What is the Wednesbury principle of unreasonableness? A decision is unreasonable if it is so absurd that no sensible authority acting within its powers could have arrived at it.
• Which case is the origin of the Wednesbury unreasonableness test? Associated Provincial Picture Houses versus Wednesbury Corporation, 1948.
• What is the doctrine of proportionality? A principle requiring that administrative action should not be more restrictive than necessary to achieve its lawful objective.
• What are the traditional grounds of judicial review recognised in CCSU versus Minister for Civil Service? Illegality, irrationality and procedural impropriety.

Principles of Natural Justice

• What are the two classical principles of natural justice? Nemo judex in causa sua and audi alteram partem.
• What does nemo judex in causa sua mean? No one should be a judge in their own cause, also called the rule against bias.
• What does audi alteram partem mean? No person should be condemned unheard, meaning both sides must be given a fair hearing.
• What are the main types of bias recognised in administrative law? Pecuniary bias, personal bias, subject matter bias and departmental bias.
• Is a reasoned order considered part of natural justice today? Yes, courts increasingly treat the duty to give reasons as a component of fair administrative action.
• Which case extended natural justice principles even to administrative and not just quasi-judicial functions? Maneka Gandhi versus Union of India, 1978.
• What did Maneka Gandhi hold about Article 21? That the procedure depriving a person of life or personal liberty must be fair, just and reasonable, not arbitrary.

Ombudsman, Lokpal and Lokayukta

• What is the concept of Ombudsman? An independent authority that investigates citizen complaints of maladministration against public officials.
• Which country is credited with originating the modern Ombudsman system? Sweden.
• What is the Indian equivalent of the Ombudsman at the central level? The Lokpal.
• Under which Act was the Lokpal established in India? The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013.
• What is the state level counterpart of the Lokpal? The Lokayukta.
• What is the main function of the Lokpal? To inquire into allegations of corruption against public functionaries, including the Prime Minister, in specified circumstances.

Right to Information and Administrative Accountability

• Which Act grants citizens the right to access information from public authorities? The Right to Information Act, 2005.
• What is the objective of the RTI Act? To promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority.
• Who is a Public Information Officer under the RTI Act? An officer designated by a public authority to receive and respond to RTI applications.
• What is the time limit to respond to a normal RTI application? Thirty days from the date of receipt of the request.

Liability of the State

• What is meant by tortious liability of the state? The liability of the government for wrongful acts committed by its servants in the course of employment.
• What is the sovereign function immunity doctrine? A principle exempting the state from liability for acts done in exercise of inherent sovereign functions such as defence and law making.
• Which case narrowed the scope of sovereign immunity in India? N. Nagendra Rao and Company versus State of Andhra Pradesh, 1994.
• What is promissory estoppel in administrative law? A doctrine that prevents the government from going back on a promise if a party has acted upon it to their detriment.

Why These One Liner Notes Work Better for Exam Revision

Long form textbooks are essential for building conceptual clarity in the first stage of preparation, but revision needs a different format. Breaking administrative law into direct questions and short answers mirrors exactly how examiners frame objective and short answer questions, so practising in this format trains your recall in the same shape you will be tested in.

A few practical ways to use this page effectively:

1. Read one topic fully, then close the page and try to answer each question from memory.
2. Mark the questions you struggle with and revisit only those in your next revision cycle.
3. Pair these one liners with the relevant bare act sections and case citations for a written exam.
4. Use the FAQ section below for concepts that are frequently misunderstood.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the easiest way to study administrative law for judiciary exams?

Start with core doctrines such as rule of law, natural justice and delegated legislation, then move to case laws, and finally revise using one liner notes like these.

Is administrative law scoring in judicial services exams?

Yes, it is considered highly scoring because questions are fact based and repetitive across years, unlike more analytical subjects.

What is the difference between administrative law and constitutional law?

Constitutional law defines the general structure and powers of the state, while administrative law deals with how those powers are actually exercised by administrative authorities.

Which cases are most important for administrative law one liners?

Maneka Gandhi versus Union of India, L. Chandra Kumar versus Union of India, Kesavananda Bharati versus State of Kerala and the Wednesbury case are frequently tested.

Can these one liner notes replace a full administrative law textbook?

No, they are best used for quick revision after you have studied the concepts in detail from a standard textbook or class notes.

Conclusion

Administrative law rewards consistent revision far more than one time deep reading, and one liner notes are the fastest way to keep every doctrine, case and article fresh in your memory right up to the exam hall. Use this page as your daily revision companion, test yourself topic by topic, and combine it with regular practice of previous year questions for the best results.

Useful Links

• Constitutional Law One Liner Notes
• Jurisprudence One Liner Notes
• Previous Year Judiciary Question Papers
• Current Affairs for Law Exams
• Bare Acts and Important Sections

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