Reasoned Decision-Making In Administrative Law: Judicial Evolution, Constitutional Foundations, And Contemporary Challenges
Swechha Gupta, Kanishka Somni & Animisha Dwivedi, National Law Institute University, Bhopal
ABSTRACT
Administrative decision-making increasingly shapes individual rights, yet the duty to give reasons, central to fair governance, remains inconsistently applied across Indian jurisdictions and administrative contexts, often reduced to procedural formality rather than genuine justification. This study critically examines the judicial and doctrinal evolution of reasoned decision-making in Indian administrative law, drawing comparative insights from the United Kingdom and the United States, to assess whether the Indian framework adequately balances administrative flexibility with fairness and transparency. Employing doctrinal analysis of constitutional provisions, statutes, and landmark judicial pronouncements, the study traces the doctrine's development from a common law natural justice principle into an enforceable constitutional command under Articles 14 and 21. Findings reveal that despite robust judicial articulation, implementation remains uneven due to the absence of a uniform statutory mandate, compounded by emerging challenges from algorithmic and automated decision-making. The study concludes that codification, institutional training, and technological transparency measures are essential to transform reasoned decision-making from judicial rhetoric into substantive administrative practice.
Keywords: reasoned decision-making, administrative law, natural justice, judicial review, algorithmic accountability.
