Administrative Law has evolved from the need to create a system of Public Administration under law. Elucidate.

The evolution of Administrative Law is a direct consequence of the desire to subject governmental action to legal principles, thereby establishing a "system of public administration under law." This necessity arose from several interconnected factors:

1. Rise of the Welfare State

• As states transformed from merely maintaining law and order to actively intervening in social and economic life (e.g., providing healthcare, education, social security), administrative bodies were created to implement these vast welfare schemes.
• This expansion necessitated a legal framework to govern these new powers and functions, ensuring they served the public good and did not infringe upon individual liberties.

2. Delegation of Powers

• Modern governance often involves complex technical matters requiring specialized expertise. Legislatures delegate significant rule-making and adjudicatory powers to administrative agencies.
• Administrative law evolved to regulate this delegated legislation and quasi-judicial functions, ensuring they remain within the bounds of the parent statute and constitutional principles. For example, the Northern India Canal and Drainage Act, 1873, and Opium Act, 1878, accepted delegated legislation in India.

3. Need for Speedy and Expert Justice

• Traditional courts are often slow, costly, and lack the specialized knowledge required to handle complex administrative disputes (e.g., environmental regulations, labor disputes).
• The establishment of administrative tribunals and specialized bodies, governed by administrative law, provided mechanisms for quicker, more expert, and less formalistic dispute resolution.

4. Control of Administrative Discretion

• The expanded role of the state inherently led to administrators exercising wide discretionary powers. Without legal checks, this discretion could lead to arbitrary decisions, corruption, and injustice.
• Administrative law seeks to strike a balance between necessary administrative flexibility and the need for accountability through principles like reasonableness, proportionality, and fairness.

5. Upholding the Rule of Law

• The core principle of the Rule of Law dictates that everyone, including government agencies, is subject to the law. Administrative law embodies this by providing mechanisms for judicial review of administrative actions.
• This ensures that public authorities act within their legal limits, adhere to prescribed procedures, and respect fundamental rights.

Key Mechanisms and Principles in the Evolution of Administrative Law

Principle/Mechanism	Description	Significance
Judicial Review	Courts examine the legality, rationality, and procedural fairness of administrative actions.	Ensures accountability and prevents arbitrary exercise of power (Articles 32, 226 in India).
Principles of Natural Justice	Includes Audi alteram partem (hear the other side) and Nemo judex in causa sua (no one should be a judge in their own cause).	Guarantees fair hearing and impartiality in administrative decision-making.
Doctrine of Ultra Vires	Administrative actions exceeding the powers granted by law are null and void.	Limits administrative agencies to their statutory authority, preventing overreach.
Doctrine of Proportionality	Administrative action must be proportionate to the objective sought.	Ensures that decisions are rational and do not impose excessive burdens.

The evolution of Administrative Law is thus a continuous process, adapting to the changing needs of governance and society, always striving to balance administrative efficiency with the protection of individual rights and adherence to the rule of law.