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B. N. Pandey*
There are several priniples !" A#$inis%ra%ive La&' &hih have (een ev!lve# () %he !*r%s "!r %he p*rp!se !" !n%r!llin+ %he e,erise !" p!&er s! %ha% i% #!es n!% lea# %! ar(i%rariness ar(i%rariness !r a(*se !" p!&er- These priniples are in%en#e# %! pr!vi#e sa"e+*ar# %! %he i%i.ens a+ains% a(*se !r $is*se !" p!&er () %he ins%r*$en%ali%ies !r a+enies !" %he /%a%e- One !" %he la%es% an# i$p!r%an% !" %hese priniples is %he ‘doctrine of legitimate expectation’ ' expectation’ ' &hih is an !*%!$e !" s)n%hesis (e%&een %he priniple !" a#$inis%ra%ive "airness a !$p!nen% !" %he priniples !" na%*ral 1*s%ie an# %he r*le !" es%!ppelI% is relevan% %! n!%e %ha% %he doctrine of legitimate expectation is expectation is a%%ainin a%%ainin+ + %he s%a%*s s%a%*s !" a "*n#a$e "*n#a$en%al n%al le+al !nep% !nep% !" a#$inis a#$inis%ra%i %ra%ive ve 1*s%ie &hih is evi#en% "r!$ i%s in!rp!ra%i!n in!rp!ra%i!n in%! /- 23 ( !" %he I n%eri$ C!ns%i%*%i!n !" %he Rep*(li !" /!*%h A"ria A% 200 !" 46- 4 The The doctrine doctrine of of ‘legitim ‘legitimate ate expect expectatio ation’ n’ i$p!ses in essene a #*%) #*%) !n p*(li p*(li a*%h! a*%h!ri% ri%) ) %! a% a% "airl) "airl) () %ain+ %ain+ in%! !nsi# !nsi#era era%i! %i!n n all relevan% "a%!rs "a%!rs rela%in+ %! s*h s*h le+i%i$a%e e,pe%a%i!ne,pe%a%i!n- The #!%rine #!%rine is s%ill a% a s%a+e !" ev!l*%i!n (*% i% has +enera%e# +enera%e# a si+ni"ian% (!#) !" ase la&The doctrine doctrine of ‘legitima ‘legitimate te expecta expectation’ tion’ has has (een (een 1*#i 1*#iial iall) l) re!+nise# () %he In#ian /*pre$e C!*r% an# %his re!+ni%i!n has pave# %he &a) "!r %he #evel!p$en% !" a (r!a#er an# $!re "le,i(le #!%rine !" "airness- C!nse8*en%l)' C!nse8*en%l)' %he %he *l%i$a%e 8*es%i!n sh!*l# sh!*l# al&a)s (e &he%her s!$e%hin+ has +!ne &r!n+ %! %he e,%en% %ha% %he !*r%9s in%erven%i!n is re8*ire# an# i" s!' &ha% "!r$ %ha% in%erven%i!n sh!*l# %ae- In !nsi#erin+ &he%her s!$e%hin+ has +!ne &r!n+' %he !*r% has %! #e%er$ine &he%her &ha% has happene# happene# has res*l%e# res*l%e# in real in1*s%iein1*s%ie- I" i% has' %he !*r% $*s% in%erve in%ervene ne in %he appr!pri appr!pria%e a%e $anner $anner'' in %his !n%e,%!n%e,%- The *%ili%) *%ili%) !" %he #!%rine !" le+i%i$a%e e,pe%a%i!n is $ani"!l#Development in United Kingdom In %he C!$$!n la& 1*ris#i%i!n %he #!%rine ha# (een %rae# %! an !(i%er #i%*$ !" L!r# Dennin+ M- R in Sehmidt v. Secretary of Home Affairs.2 L!r# Dennin+ !(serve# in Sehmidt : * 1
2
. LL.M, Ph.D, Professor, Law School, Banaras Hindu University, BHU . Sectio Section n 2!"#$ 2!"#$ %&very %&very 'erson 'erson shall shall have the ri(ht ri(ht to 'roce 'rocedu dural rally ly fair ad)inis ad)inistrativ trativee action action where any of his or her ri(hts ri(hts or legitimate expectations expectations is affected or threatened. . [1969] 2 Ch 149; (1969) 1.AllE.R. 904.
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The speehes in Ridge v Baldwin sh!& %ha% an a#$inis%ra%ive (!#) $a)' in a pr!per ase' (e (!*n# %! +ive a pers!n &h! is a""e%e# () %heir #eisi!n an !pp!r%*ni%) !" $ain+ represen%a%i!ns- I% all #epen#s !n &he%her he has s!$e ri+h% !r in%eres% !r I &!*l# a##' some legitimate expectation' !" &hih i% &!*l# n!% (e "air %! #eprive hi$ &i%h!*% hearin+ &ha% he has %! sa) ----
The le+i%i$a%e e,pe%a%i!n re"erre# %! in' Sehmidt #i# n!% +ive %he alien s%*#en%s an en"!rea(le ri+h% %! s%a) "!r %he %i$e !ri+inall) per$i%%e# (*% an en"!rea(le ri+h% %! (e hear# (e"!re %he #eisi!n %! rev!e his per$i% &as %aen: a pr!e#*ral pr!%e%i!n !nl)In %his ase %he plain%i""s' alien s%*#en%s a% <*((ar# C!lle+e !" /ien%!l!+)' ha# (een +iven leave %! en%er %he @ni%e# in+#!$ (e"!re ?*l)' 4;' ini%iall) "!r a peri!# !" a $!n%h- The peri!#s ha# (een e,%en#e# %! %he en# !" A*+*s% an# /ep%e$(er 4;' respe%ivel) Applia%i!ns &ere $a#e !n (ehal" !" %he plain%i""s %! %he
. n a letter to Prof. 3.4. 4orsyth, 5uoted in 3a)"rid(e Law ournal, / !2#, uly 1677, at 21.
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n!% s*++es% an) !%her pr!venane- Pres*$a(l)' %here"!re' %he !ri+in !" %he !nep% lies &i%hin L!r# Dennin+9s 1*s%l) "a$e# rea%ive $in# an# n!% else&here
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. 8he 9er)an 3once't of :Vertrauenschutz ; sou(ht to 'rotect the confidence that su"eview +6 at + and >e 3ivil Service Salaries$ E.C. Commission v. E.C. Council , !16/+# &.3.>. /? !16/+# 3.M.L.>. +6. . !167+# 2 @.3. 26, !167+# + @ll. &.>. +. . !167# @.3. +/, !167# + @ll. &.>. 6+. . !167# 7 L9> 17.
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ra%epa)ers an# paren% +!vern!rs' &h! alle+e#' in%er alia' ina#e8*a%e !ns*l%a%i!n-
In a s*(se8*en% ase' %he C!*r% !" Appeal *se# %his as an !pp!r%*ni%) %! re!nsi#er %he en%ire #evel!p$en% in =ri%ain in %he area !" le+i%i$a%e e,pe%a%i!n- In Re+ina v- N!r%h an# Eas% Divisi!n hen %he le+i%i$a) !" %he e,ep%i!n ha# (een es%a(lishe#' %he !*r% &!*l# have %he %as !" &ei+h%in+ %he re8*ire$en%s !" "airness a+ains% an) !verri#in+ in%eres% relie# *p!n "!r %he han+e !" p!li)- 40 I% is "!r %he !*r% %! #ei#e in &hih !" %he %&! a%e+!rises is a spei"i "a% si%*a%i!n-
Development in India
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A2--1 CB 21+ Id . at 21
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The le+al p!si%i!n in In#ia is $!re !r less %he sa$e as in En+lan#- The preise !n%en% !" %his #!%rine' &hih ena(les an a++rieve# pers!n %! see his re$e#) () 1*#iial revie&' has als! (een %he s*(1e% $a%%er !" ev!l*%i!n %hr!*+h 1*#iial #eisi!ns- In !av)yoti $oop. Gro#p Ho#sing Society v. %nion of *ndia ++' %he /*pre$e C!*r% re!+nise# %ha% () reas!n !" applia%i!n !" %he sai# #!%rine' an a++rieve# par%) &!*l# (e en%i%le# %! see 1*#iial revie&' i" he !*l# sh!& %ha% a #eisi!n !" %he p*(li a*%h!ri%) a""e%e# hi$ !" s!$e (ene"i% !r a#van%a+e &hih in %he pas% he ha# (een per$i%%e# %! en1!) an# &hih he le+i%i$a%el) e,pe%e# %! (e per$i%%e# %! !n%in*e %! en1!) ei%her *n%il he &as +iven reas!ns "!r &i%h#ra&al an# %he !pp!r%*ni%) %! !$$en% s*h reas!nsH-42 In %his ase %he seni!ri%) as per %he e,is%in+ lis% !" !!pera%ive h!*sin+ s!ie%) "!r all!%$en% !" lan# &as al%ere# () s*(se8*en% #eisi!n- The previ!*s p!li) &as %ha% %he seni!ri%) a$!n+s% h!*sin+ s!ie%ies in re+ar# %! all!%$en% !" lan# &as %! (e (ase# !n %he #a%e !" re+is%ra%i!n !" %he s!ie%) &i%h %he Re+is%rar- =*% !n 20-4-40' %he p!li) &as han+e# () re!nin+ seni!ri%) as (ase# *p!n %he #a%e !" appr!val !" %he "inal lis% () %he Re+is%rar- This al%ere# %he e,is%in+ seni!ri%) !" %he s!ie%) "!r all!%$en% !" lan#- The /*pre$e C!*r% hel# %ha% %he s!ie%ies &ere en%i%le# %! a ,legitimate expectation %ha% %he pas% !nsis%en% pra%ie in %he $a%%er !" all!%$en% (e "!ll!&e# even i" %here &as n! ri+h% in priva%e la& "!r s*h all!%$en%- The a*%h!ri%) &as n!% en%i%le# %! #e"ea% %he le+i%i$a%e e,pe%a%i!n !" %he s!ie%ies as per %he previ!*s seni!ri%) lis% &i%h!*% s!$e !verri#in+ reas!n !" p*(li p!li) as %! 1*s%i") han+e in %he ri%eri!n- N! s*h !verri#in+ p*(li in%eres% &as sh!&nThe /*pre$e C!*r% re!+nise# %ha% %he #!%rine' in essene' i$p!ses a #*%) !n p*(li a*%h!ri%) %! a% "airl) %ain+ in%! !nsi#era%i!n all relevan% "a%!rs (e"!re e""e%in+ a han+e in i%s p!liies &hih &!*l# a""e% a pers!n &h! ha# (een (ene"iiar) !" %he !n%in*in+ p!li)The #!%rine !" le+i%i$a%e e,pe%a%i!n pr!vi#es %ha% %he s%a%e$en%s !" p!li) !r in%en%i!n !" %he G!vern$en% !r i%s Depar%$en% in a#$inis%erin+ i%s a""airs sh!*l# (e &i%h!*% a(*se !r #isre%i!n- The p!li) s%a%e$en% !*l# n!% (e #isre+ar#e# *n"airl) !r applie# sele%ivel) "!r %he reas!n %ha% *n"airness in %he "!r$ !" *nreas!na(leness is ain %! vi!la%i!n !" na%*ral 1*s%ie- I% $eans %ha% sai# a%i!ns have %! (e in !n"!r$i%) !" Ar%ile 43 !" %he C!ns%i%*%i!n' !" &hih n!nar(i%rariness is a se!n# "ae%- P*(li A*%h!ri%) ann!% lai$ %! have *n"e%%ere# #isre%i!n in p*(li la& as %he a*%h!ri%) is !n"erre# &i%h p!&er !nl) %! *se %he$ "!r p*(li +!!#- Generall) le+i%i$a%e e,pe%a%i!n is essen%iall) pr!e#*ral in hara%er as i% +ives ass*rane !" "air pla) in a#$inis%ra%ive a%i!n (*% i% $a) in a +iven ase (e en"!re# as a s*(s%an%ive ri+h%- =*% a pers!n lai$in+ i% has %! sa%is") %he C!*r% %ha% his ri+h%s ha# (een al%ere# () en"!rin+ a ri+h% in priva%e la& !r he has (een #eprive# !" s!$e (ene"i% 11 12
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!1662# S33 //. Id . at 6.
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!r a#van%a+e &hih he &as havin+ in %he pas% an# &hih he !*l# le+i%i$a%el) e,pe% %! (e per$i%%e# %! !n%in*e *nless i% is &i%h#ra&n !n s!$e ra%i!nal +r!*n# !r he has reeive# ass*rane "r!$ %he #eisi!n $ain+ A*%h!ri%) &hih is n!% "*l"ille#' i-e-' %he in# !" pr!$iss!r) es%!ppelChan+e !" p!li) sh!*l# n!% vi!la%e %he s*(s%an%ive le+i%i$a%e e,pe%a%i!n an# i" i% #!es s! i% $*s% (e as %he han+e !" p!li) &hih is neessar) an# s*h a han+e is n!% irra%i!nal !r perverseThe ne,% ase in &hih %he #!%rine !" ,legitimate expectation &as !nsi#ere# is %he ase !" ood $orpn. of *ndia v. amdhen# $attle eed *nd#stries-46 There %he F!!# C!rp!ra%i!n !" In#ia invi%e# %en#ers "!r sale !" s%!s !" #a$a+e# "!!# +rains an# %he resp!n#en%9s (i# &as %he hi+hes%- All %en#erers &ere invi%e# "!r ne+!%ia%i!n' (*% %he resp!n#en% #i# n!% raise his (i# #*rin+ ne+!%ia%i!n &hile !%hers #i#- The resp!n#en% "ile# a &ri% pe%i%i!n lai$in+ %ha% i% ha# a le+i%i$a%e e,pe%a%i!n !" aep%ane !" i%s (i#' &hih &as %he hi+hes%- The
. . . . .
!166+# 1. S.3.3. /1. Supra note . 167 @3 7+? !167# 2 @ll & > +2/. !166+# + S33 66 Id . at 6.
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The C!*r% n!%e# %ha% le+i%i$a%e e,pe%a%i!n &as n!% %he sa$e %hin+ as a an%iipa%i!nI% &as als! #i""eren% "r!$ a $ere &ish %! #esire !r h!pe n!r &as i% a lai$ !r #e$an# (ase# !n a ri+h%- A $ere #isapp!in%$en% &!*l# n!% +ive rise %! le+al !nse8*enes-4;
A% an!%her plae' in %he sa$e 1*#+e$en%' %he p!si%i!n &as in#ia%e# as "!ll!&s: The le+i%i$a) !" an e,pe%a%i!n an (e in"erre# !nl) i" i% is "!*n#e# !n %he san%i!n !" la& !r *s%!$ !r an es%a(lishe# pr!e#*re "!ll!&e# in re+*lar an# na%*ral se8*ene---- /*h e,pe%a%i!n sh!*l# (e 1*s%i"ia(l) le+i%i$a%e an# pr!%e%a(le-4
In &.0. 4il 5xtraction v. State of &.0 .67 %he /*pre$e C!*r% r*le# %ha% %he #!%rine !" le+i%i$a%e e,pe%a%i!n has i%s applia%i!n !nl) in %he real$ !" p*(li la& an# %ha% in an appr!pria%e ase' !ns%i%*%es a s*(s%an%ive an# en"!rea(le ri+h%H- On %he "a%s !" %he ins%an% ase' i% &as hel# %ha% %he in#*s%ries' &i%h &h!$ %he /%a%e +!vern$en% ha# en%ere# in%! a+ree$en%s "!r s*ppl) !" sal see#s' ha# a le+i%i$a%e e,pe%a%i!n %ha% in a!r#ane &i%h %he rene&al la*se an# in a!r#ane &i%h %he pas% pra%ie' %he a+ree$en%s &!*l# (e rene&e# in %he *s*al $anner- The C!*r% als! r*le# %ha% %he sele%e# in#*s%ries' &i%h &hih %he s%a%e ha# en%ere# in%! a+ree$en%s "!r s*ppl) !" sal see#s a% !nessi!nal ra%es' nee#e# %he pr!%e%i!n !" !n%in*in+ s*h a+ree$en%s an# hene' %he rene&al la*se &ere pr!vi#e# in %h!se a+ree$en%s- The C!*r% a%%ahe# !nsi#era(le i$p!r%ane %! %he nee# "!r pr!%e%i!n !" s*h sele%e# in#*s%ries () *ph!l#in+ %he vali#i%) !" %he rene&al la*ses in %h!se a+ree$en%s' al%h!*+h i% &as apparen% in %he $in# !" %he C!*r% %ha% %! ens*re "air pla) an# %ransparen) in %he s%a%e9s a%i!n' i% &as #esira(le %ha% #is%ri(*%i!n !" s%a%e lar+esse &as e""e%e# () invi%in+ !pen %en#ers !r () p*(li a*%i!n- The C!*r%' h!&ever' "el% %ha% speial a+ree$en%s en%ere# in%! &i%h %he sele%e# in#*s%rial *ni%s () %he s%a%e +!vern$en% &ere per$issi(le- The #eisi!n re"le%s %he $in# !" %he !*r% %ha% i% !nsi#ere# %he #!%rine !" le+i%i$a%e e,pe%a%i!n as an e8*i%a(le priniple an# %ha% in !r#er %! +ive "*ll e""e% %! %his priniple' applia%i!n !" an!%her priniple in %he real$ !" p*(li la& $a)' i" nee# (e' have %! (e res%ri%e#The /*pre$e C!*r% lai# #!&n a lear priniple %ha% lai$s !n le+i%i$a%e e,pe%a%i!n re8*ire# reliane !n represen%a%i!n an# res*l%an% #e%ri$en% in %he sa$e &a) as lai$s (ase# !n pr!$iss!r) es%!ppel- In !ational B#ildings $onstr#ction $orporation v S. Ragh#nathan 6+' %he resp!n#en%s &ere app!in%e# in CP>D- The) &en% !n #ep*%a%i!n %! N=CC in Ira8 an# !p%e# %! #ra&' &hile !n #ep*%a%i!n' %heir +ra#e pa) in 17 16 221
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Id . at -. Id . !166/# / S33 62. !1667# / S33 .
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CP>D pl*s #ep*%a%i!n all!&ane- =esi#es %ha%' N=CC +ran%e# %he$ "!rei+n all!&ane a% 425J !" %he (asi pa)- Mean&hile %heir (asi pa) in CP>D &as revise# &-e-"- 4-4-4; !n %he re!$$en#a%i!n !" %he F!*r%h Pa) C!$$issi!in- The) !n%en#e# %ha% %he a"!resai# inrease !" 425J sh!*l# (e +iven () N=CC !n %heir revise# sales- This &as n!% aep%e# () N=CC- The !n%en%i!n !" %he resp!n#en%s (ase# !n le+i%i$a%e e,pe%a%i!n &as re1e%e# in vie& !" %he pe*liar !n#i%i!ns an# "inanial s%rin+en) #*e %! e$(ar+! p*% () @NO *n#er &hih N=CC &as &!rin+ in Ira8- On %he "a%s !" %he ase' %he C!*r%' "!*n# %ha% sine %here &as n! pr!$ise !r a+ree$en% !r !n%ra% !" servie e,e*%e# () N=CC "!r pa)$en% !" "!rei+n all!&ane %! i%s e$pl!)ees' &h! &ere p!s%e# !n !verseas pr!1e%s' %he) !*l# n!% have an) le+i%i$a%e e,pe%a%i!n !" reeivin+ s*h all!&ane- The C!*r% "*r%her r*le# %ha% %he 8*es%i!n' &he%her %he e,pe%a%i!ns an# %he lai$s $a#e %here*p!n &ere le+i%i$a%e !r n!%' &as essen%iall) a 8*es%i!n !" "a% an# %here"!re' %he r*les !" plea#in+ &!*l# s%ri%l) appl)- A par%) &hih sees a relie" "r!$ %he C!*r% lai$in+ e,pe%a%i!n' !*+h% %! plae s*h "a%s (e"!re %he !*r% as &!*l# ena(le i% %! sa%is") i%sel" %ha% s*h lai$ is le+i%i$a%e- I% &as !(serve# () %he /*pre$e C!*r% %ha% %he #!%rine !" ,legitimate expectation had 8oth s#8stantive and proced#ral aspects The /*pre$e C!*r% res%a%e# %ha% a p!li) #eisi!n $ain+ represen%a%i!n %ha% (ene"i%s !" s*(s%an%ive na%*re &ill (e +ran%e#' rea%es le+i%i$a%e e,pe%a%i!n &hih is s*(s%an%ive in na%*re an# is n!r$all) (in#in+ !n %he #eisi!n $aer- =*% s*h p!li) an (e han+e# in !verri#in+ p*(li in%eres%' sine h!ie !" p!li) is "!r %he #eisi!n$aer
.
!1666# S33 /2/
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is alrea#) s!$e%hin+ s*pera##e# %! 1*s% Ke,pe%a%i!nK s!$e in# !" ass*rane !r represen%a%i!n () %he a#$inis%ra%i!n !r %he "a% %ha% %he e,pe%a%i!n has (een re!+ni.e# !ver a peri!# !" %i$e- >ha% nee#s %! (e reali.e# is %ha% %he !nep% is $!re !" an e8*i%a(le na%*re ra%her %han le+alis%i in na%*re-
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