ADMINISTRATIVE LAW I.P. Massey

Administrative law is a heuristic science. It is a branch of public law which is essentially anti-authoritarian. It is a "Dharma" of the administration. It strives to develop a rule of law society based on fairness, reasonableness and justness. In the 21st century due to economic liberalisation and globalisation, administrative law has assumed transnational significance as it tries to bring rule of law in global administrative space. In this context administrative law is not merely a legal discourse, it has
become a
civilisational
discourse.
Administrative law as a separate branch of legal discipline, especially in India, came to be recognised only by the middle of the 20th century. Today the administration is ubiquitous and impinges freely and deeply on every aspect of an individual's life. Therefore, administrative law has become a major area for study and research.' Principles of administrative law are not extra-constitutional, they emerge from Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.