Question

"Administrative law is the law concerning the powers and procedures of administrative agencies, including especially the law governing judicial review of administrative action." This definition was given by:

• A. H.W.R. Wade
• B. A.V. Dicey
• C. K.C. Davis
• D. Ivor Jennings

Hint:

For jurisprudential definitions:

• Dicey = Rule of Law

• Wade = Modern Administrative Law

• Jennings = Administration and Government

• K.C. Davis = Administrative Agencies + Judicial Review

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Concept: Administrative Law is the branch of public law that regulates the organization, powers, duties and control of administrative authorities. Various jurists have defined Administrative Law from different perspectives. Among these scholars,

Kenneth Culp Davis (K.C. Davis) is particularly known for providing a practical and functional definition focusing on administrative agencies and judicial review.

Step 1: Understanding K.C. Davis's definition.
* According to K.C. Davis, Administrative Law deals with:

• Powers of administrative agencies,

• Procedures followed by such agencies,

• Methods of exercising those powers, and

• Judicial review of administrative actions.
* His definition emphasizes the operational functioning of administrative bodies rather than merely theoretical principles.

Step 2: Importance of judicial review.
* Administrative authorities exercise vast powers affecting citizens' rights. * To prevent misuse of power, courts exercise judicial review over administrative decisions. * Judicial review ensures legality, fairness, reasonableness and compliance with constitutional principles.

Step 3: Why other scholars are incorrect.
*

A.V. Dicey is famous for the concept of Rule of Law and criticism of French Administrative Law. *

H.W.R. Wade extensively wrote on administrative law but the quoted definition is not his. *

Ivor Jennings emphasized Administrative Law as relating to administration but did not provide the quoted definition.

K.C. Davis viewed Administrative Law as the law governing administrative agencies and the judicial control exercised over them.

Answer 2

This definition can be identified by checking which jurist is actually known for combining "administrative agencies" with "judicial review of administrative action" as the centrepiece of their definition, and ruling out jurists known for other contributions.

1. H.W.R. Wade: Wade is a leading modern writer on English administrative law, known for his treatise-style exposition of principles such as natural justice and ultra vires, but the specific wording tying the subject to "powers and procedures of administrative agencies" and judicial review is not the definition associated with his name.
2. A.V. Dicey: Dicey is primarily associated with the Rule of Law and, notably, with denying that England had anything resembling "administrative law" in the French sense. Since Dicey's contribution is largely about resisting the concept rather than defining it functionally, he cannot be the source of this definition.
3. K.C. Davis: Davis, an American administrative law scholar, is specifically known for a functional definition built around agency powers, procedures, and judicial review, which is exactly the structure of the quoted definition. This matches both in substance and emphasis.
4. Ivor Jennings: Jennings wrote on constitutional and administrative law in the British context and offered his own description of the subject as law relating to administration, but his formulation does not centre on judicial review of agency action in the way the quoted definition does.

Matching the quoted definition's structure and emphasis to each jurist's known contribution points to only one match.

Therefore, the correct answer is K.C. Davis.