Judicial Review and the Legal Framework Governing Administrative Actions

Abstract

The concept of judicial review serves as a cornerstone of constitutional governance, ensuring that all actions of the legislature, executive, and administrative authorities conform to the principles of legality, fairness, and reasonableness. Rooted in the Constitution of India, particularly under Articles 13, 32, 136, 226, and 227, judicial review empowers the judiciary to act as the ultimate guardian of citizens’ rights and the supremacy of the Constitution. It enables courts to examine administrative actions for illegality, irrationality, and procedural impropriety, thereby preventing misuse of discretionary powers. The legal framework governing administrative actions is derived from both statutory and constitutional sources, including the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985, which provides specialized forums for adjudication of administrative disputes. Judicial pronouncements such as A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras (1950), Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978), and Keshavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973) have expanded the scope of judicial review, integrating it into the basic structure of the Constitution. Furthermore, in an era of digital governance and artificial intelligence, judicial review has evolved to address emerging issues of data privacy, algorithmic accountability, and e-governance transparency. Thus, the doctrine of judicial review continues to act as a dynamic instrument for maintaining constitutional balance, administrative accountability, and the rule of law in a modern democratic state.