MCQs on Administrative Law for CLAT PG [Part 7]
Q1. The primary concern that led to the development of administrative law was:
a) Excessive judicial intervention
b) Legislative inefficiency
c) Unchecked executive discretion
d) Federal imbalance
b) Legislative inefficiency
c) Unchecked executive discretion
d) Federal imbalance
Q2. Modern administrative law views discretion as:
a) Constitutionally suspect
b) Inherently arbitrary
c) Necessary but controllable
d) A substitute for legislation
b) Inherently arbitrary
c) Necessary but controllable
d) A substitute for legislation
Q3. Judicial review is distinguished from an appeal primarily because it focuses on:
a) Correctness of outcome
b) Policy wisdom
c) Decision-making process
d) Public interest
b) Policy wisdom
c) Decision-making process
d) Public interest
Q4. Which of the following best reflects the contemporary understanding of illegality in judicial review?
a) Moral incorrectness of the decision
b) Violation of statutory limits or purpose
c) Economic inefficiency
d) Political disagreement
b) Violation of statutory limits or purpose
c) Economic inefficiency
d) Political disagreement
Q5. The doctrine of proportionality primarily requires that:
a) Administrative decisions be popular
b) Courts replace administrative judgment
c) Means adopted are not excessive in relation to the objective
d) All restrictions be minimal
b) Courts replace administrative judgment
c) Means adopted are not excessive in relation to the objective
d) All restrictions be minimal
Q6. Natural justice in administrative law is now understood as:
a) An absolute procedural mandate
b) A constitutional ritual
c) Context-dependent requirement of fairness
d) Applicable only to judicial proceedings
b) A constitutional ritual
c) Context-dependent requirement of fairness
d) Applicable only to judicial proceedings
Q7. Post-decisional hearing is constitutionally acceptable mainly when:
a) Statutes expressly prohibit hearings
b) Administrative convenience demands it
c) Prior hearing would frustrate urgent action
d) Courts lack jurisdiction
b) Administrative convenience demands it
c) Prior hearing would frustrate urgent action
d) Courts lack jurisdiction
Q8. The doctrine of legitimate expectation primarily protects:
a) Substantive entitlements
b) Contractual rights
c) Procedural fairness
d) Economic interests
b) Contractual rights
c) Procedural fairness
d) Economic interests
Q9. Promissory estoppel restrains the State chiefly because:
a) The State is bound like a private party
b) Government promises are contracts
c) Fairness requires respect for induced reliance
d) Courts dislike policy changes
b) Government promises are contracts
c) Fairness requires respect for induced reliance
d) Courts dislike policy changes
Q10. Which factor most clearly limits the application of promissory estoppel against the State?
a) Change in political leadership
b) Absence of consideration
c) Overriding public interest
d) Judicial reluctance
b) Absence of consideration
c) Overriding public interest
d) Judicial reluctance
Q11. Judicial deference to administrative expertise is justified primarily on grounds of:
a) Parliamentary supremacy
b) Democratic deficit
c) Institutional competence
d) Separation of powers rigidity
b) Democratic deficit
c) Institutional competence
d) Separation of powers rigidity
Q12. The doctrine of administrative necessity allows departure from natural justice because:
a) Bias is legally irrelevant
b) Efficiency overrides legality
c) Governance would otherwise be paralysed
d) Courts permit it by default
b) Efficiency overrides legality
c) Governance would otherwise be paralysed
d) Courts permit it by default
Q13. Colourable exercise of power occurs when:
a) Power is exercised harshly
b) Authority acts without jurisdiction
c) Power is used for an improper purpose
d) Procedure is inefficient
b) Authority acts without jurisdiction
c) Power is used for an improper purpose
d) Procedure is inefficient
Q14. Judicial restraint in matters of economic policy reflects recognition that:
a) Courts lack constitutional authority
b) Policy choices involve complex value judgments
c) Economic rights are unenforceable
d) Administration is immune from review
b) Policy choices involve complex value judgments
c) Economic rights are unenforceable
d) Administration is immune from review
Q15. The overarching objective of administrative law is best described as:
a) Eliminating administrative discretion
b) Ensuring judicial supremacy
c) Reconciling effective governance with constitutional accountability
d) Preventing policy innovation
b) Ensuring judicial supremacy
c) Reconciling effective governance with constitutional accountability
d) Preventing policy innovation
Answers
1. Correct Answer: C – Unchecked executive discretion
Explanation: Administrative law arose to control discretionary power exercised by the executive, ensuring it does not become arbitrary or oppressive.
Explanation: Administrative law arose to control discretionary power exercised by the executive, ensuring it does not become arbitrary or oppressive.
2. Correct Answer: C – Necessary but controllable
Explanation: Modern law accepts discretion as inevitable but insists it be structured and exercised for lawful purposes.
Explanation: Modern law accepts discretion as inevitable but insists it be structured and exercised for lawful purposes.
3. Correct Answer: C – Decision-making process
Explanation: Judicial review examines legality, fairness, and rationality of the process, not the merits of the decision.
Explanation: Judicial review examines legality, fairness, and rationality of the process, not the merits of the decision.
4. Correct Answer: B – Violation of statutory limits or purpose
Explanation: Illegality arises when power is exercised beyond jurisdiction or contrary to legislative intent.
Explanation: Illegality arises when power is exercised beyond jurisdiction or contrary to legislative intent.
5. Correct Answer: C – Means not excessive in relation to objective
Explanation: Proportionality ensures that even lawful objectives are pursued through reasonable measures.
Explanation: Proportionality ensures that even lawful objectives are pursued through reasonable measures.
6. Correct Answer: C – Context-dependent requirement of fairness
Explanation: Natural justice adapts to circumstances such as urgency or statutory context.
Explanation: Natural justice adapts to circumstances such as urgency or statutory context.
7. Correct Answer: C – Prior hearing would frustrate urgent action
Explanation: Courts permit post-decisional hearing where immediate action is essential.
Explanation: Courts permit post-decisional hearing where immediate action is essential.
8. Correct Answer: C – Procedural fairness
Explanation: Legitimate expectation ensures fair treatment, not guaranteed outcomes.
Explanation: Legitimate expectation ensures fair treatment, not guaranteed outcomes.
9. Correct Answer: C – Respect for induced reliance
Explanation: The doctrine prevents unfair withdrawal of assurances relied upon by citizens.
Explanation: The doctrine prevents unfair withdrawal of assurances relied upon by citizens.
10. Correct Answer: C – Overriding public interest
Explanation: Public interest can justify departure from promises, but must be clearly shown.
Explanation: Public interest can justify departure from promises, but must be clearly shown.
11. Correct Answer: C – Institutional competence
Explanation: Courts recognise that administrators often possess technical expertise judges lack.
Explanation: Courts recognise that administrators often possess technical expertise judges lack.
12. Correct Answer: C – Governance would otherwise be paralysed
Explanation: Necessity allows action despite procedural defects when no alternative exists.
Explanation: Necessity allows action despite procedural defects when no alternative exists.
13. Correct Answer: C – Improper purpose
Explanation: Colourable exercise disguises illegitimate objectives under lawful authority.
Explanation: Colourable exercise disguises illegitimate objectives under lawful authority.
14. Correct Answer: B — Complex value judgments
Explanation: Economic policy involves predictive and technical choices unsuitable for judicial substitution.
Explanation: Economic policy involves predictive and technical choices unsuitable for judicial substitution.
15. Correct Answer: C – Reconciling governance with accountability
Explanation: Administrative law balances efficiency with legality, not dominance of one over the other.
Explanation: Administrative law balances efficiency with legality, not dominance of one over the other.
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Adtiya Aryan
Contributing author
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