{"id":12325,"date":"2025-11-28T03:37:06","date_gmt":"2025-11-28T03:37:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/?p=12325"},"modified":"2025-11-28T03:42:20","modified_gmt":"2025-11-28T03:42:20","slug":"a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\/","title":{"rendered":"A.K. Kraipak v Union of India: Redefining Bias and Natural Justice in Administrative Action"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 id=\"case-analysis\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Case_Analysis\"><\/span>Case Analysis<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"case-details\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Case_Name_AK_Kraipak_Vs_Union_of_India\"><\/span>Case Name: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.legalservicesindia.com\/article\/1162\/A.K-Kraipak-v.-Union-of-India.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A.K. Kraipak Vs. Union of India<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Citation:<\/strong> AIR 1970 SC 150<br \/>\n<strong>Year:<\/strong> 1969<br \/>\n<strong>Petitioner:<\/strong> AK. Kraipak &amp; other officers<br \/>\n<strong>Respondent:<\/strong> Union of India<br \/>\n<strong>Bench:<\/strong> Hon\u2019ble C.J., JM Shelat, KS Hedge, AN Grover, Vashishtha Bhargava, JJ and Hon\u2019ble Mr. Justice M. Hidayatullah<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_87 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #0c0c0c;color:#0c0c0c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #0c0c0c;color:#0c0c0c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\/#Case_Analysis\" >Case Analysis<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\/#Case_Name_AK_Kraipak_Vs_Union_of_India\" >Case Name: A.K. Kraipak Vs. Union of India<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\/#Facts_and_Arguments_of_the_Case\" >Facts and Arguments of the Case<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\/#Issues\" >Issues<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\/#Rules\" >Rules<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\/#Analysis\" >Analysis<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\/#The_Blurring_of_the_Line_Between_Administrative_and_Quasi_Judicial_Functions\" >The Blurring of the Line Between Administrative and Quasi Judicial Functions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\/#Courts_View_on_the_Nature_of_the_Selection_Process\" >Court\u2019s View on the Nature of the Selection Process<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\/#Case_Laws_Relied_Upon_by_the_Court\" >Case Laws Relied Upon by the Court<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\/#Importance_of_Fairness_in_Administrative_Decisions\" >Importance of Fairness in Administrative Decisions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\/#Comparative_Case_References\" >Comparative Case References<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\/#Impact\" >Impact<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\/#Significance\" >Significance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\/#Conclusion-2\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<h2 id=\"facts-and-arguments\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Facts_and_Arguments_of_the_Case\"><\/span>Facts and Arguments of the Case<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The Indian Forest Service came into being under the All India Services Act, 1951, with recruitment being governed by the 1966 Rules and Regulations. Regulation 5 required that a Special Selection Board was formed to prepare the names of the eligible officers of the State Forest Service and submit them for the approval of the UPSC.<\/p>\n<p>For Jammu &amp; Kashmir, the Board consisted of Naqishbund, Acting Chief Conservator of Forests, who was also a candidate. The Board excluded the senior officers G.H. Basu, M.I. Baig, and A.N. Kaul and ranked Naqishbund as first. Even though he abstained while being considered, he went ahead to consider his rivals and finalise the list.<\/p>\n<p>The appointments were made in accordance with the list approved by the UPSC, leading to the filing of petitions under Article 32 alleging bias and uneven application of the principles embodied under Articles 14 and 16.<\/p>\n<p>The petitioners argued that since the Board enjoyed a quasi-judicial character, having Naqishbund occupy both roles violated the maxim <em>nemo judex in causa sua<\/em>. On the other hand, the respondents contended that the process was merely administrative and recommendatory and thus free from bias since Naqishbund did not decide his own case.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"issues\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Issues\"><\/span>Issues<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The conflict at hand raised many questions for the Hon\u2019ble Court: &#8211;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Whether the Selection Board\u2019s role was purely administrative or quasi-judicial, attracting natural justice.<\/li>\n<li>Do principles of natural justice apply even to purely administrative functions?<\/li>\n<li>Did Naqishbund\u2019s participation create reasonable likelihood of bias despite abstaining on his own case?<\/li>\n<li>If the Board\u2019s process was biased, does it invalidate UPSC approval and Central Government appointments?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"rules\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rules\"><\/span>Rules<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The following rules are applicable in the given case:<\/p>\n<table border=\"1\" cellpadding=\"6\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Rule\/Principle<\/th>\n<th>Key Provision\/Idea<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>All India Services Act, 1951<\/td>\n<td>Section 3(1)- Central Gov. to make rules for recruitment<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Indian Forest Service (Recruitment) Rules, 1966<\/td>\n<td>Rule 4(1)- Permits recruitment from the State Forest Service<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Indian Forest Service (Initial Recruitment) Regulations, 1966<\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>Regulation 3- Constitutes a Special Selection Board<\/li>\n<li>Regulation 5- Preparation of preference list<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Doctrines<\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Nemo Judex in Causa Sua:<\/strong> No person can be a judge in their own cause<\/li>\n<li><strong>Reasonable likelihood of bias test:<\/strong> Actual bias need not be shown<\/li>\n<li><strong>Judicial Review of administrative action:<\/strong> Strikes down biased or improper decisions<\/li>\n<li><strong>Quasi-judicial v administrative body:<\/strong> former applies natural justice, latter doesn\u2019t. This distinction blurred by Kraipak.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 id=\"analysis\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Analysis\"><\/span>Analysis<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"blurring-line\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Blurring_of_the_Line_Between_Administrative_and_Quasi_Judicial_Functions\"><\/span>The Blurring of the Line Between Administrative and Quasi Judicial Functions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>An administrative body is \u201ca a government agency authorised to implement legislative directives by developing more precise and technical rules than legislative setting. Many administrative agencies also have law enforcement responsibilities\u201d[1]. Such bodies act through discretion guided by policy and may affect individual rights, but they do not conclusively determine those rights with finality or binding force..[2]<\/p>\n<p>By contrast, when an authority frames its own procedure yet ensures Natural justice compliance, it becomes quasi-judicial. As held in \u201cBoard of High School &amp; Intermediate Education, UP v. Ghanshyam Das Gupta\u201d[3]- \u201cwhen an administrative body is entrusted with its own procedure so long as the principles of natural justice are followed and adequate opportunity of presenting his case is given to the examinee, such body becomes a quasi judicial body\u201d. Such authorities, though not courts, may decide disputes, need not follow strict rules of evidence and are not bound by precedents.[4]<\/p>\n<table border=\"1\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Administrative Bodies<\/th>\n<th>Quasi-Judicial Bodies<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Guided by policy and discretion<\/td>\n<td>Must follow Natural Justice<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Do not give binding final decisions<\/td>\n<td>Can determine disputes affecting rights<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>No strict rules of evidence<\/td>\n<td>Still not bound by precedents like courts<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Court\u2019s opinion in the case:<\/strong> Court viewed the Board as administrative since it merely recommended names for appointment. Yet, as these recommendations directly impacted candidate\u2019s careers, the Court expressed need for objectivity, face-evaluation and application of standards similar to judicial functions. This overlap shows that natural justice is not confined to judicial\/quasi-judicial actions. Later judgements reaffirmed that whenever administrative decisions entail civil consequences, fairness and natural justice are implied duties[5]. Thus eroding the earlierStrict division between administrative and quasi-judicial functions.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"view-selection-process\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Courts_View_on_the_Nature_of_the_Selection_Process\"><\/span>Court\u2019s View on the Nature of the Selection Process<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Court next considered whether the selection process violated those principles of natural justice. As we can understand from \u201cSahara India (1) v. CIT\u201d[6]- \u201cPrinciples of natural justice are those rules which have been laid down by the courts as being the minimum protection of the rights of the individual against the arbitrary procedure that may be adopted by a judicial, quasi-judicial and administrative authority while making an order affecting those rights\u201d. Traditionally, natural justice rests on two principles:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Nemo in propria causa judex, esse debet- which means that \u201cno one can be a judge in his own case\u201d. In short this is also called the rule against bias.<\/li>\n<li>Audi alteram partem- which means hearing the other party, that is no one should be condemned unheard.<\/li>\n<li>Recently to these 2 principles, the concept of transparency and good governance are also added, which opens the dimensions for the duty to pass a speaking order.[7]<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For our case the first doctrine of natural justice stands the most relevant. Bias means \u201can operative prejudice, whether conscious or unconscious, in relation to a party or issue\u201d[8]. This rule is essential not merely for impartial adjudication but also to ensure public confidence in the impartiality of the administrative process, as \u201cjustice should not only be done but should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done\u201d. [9] A biased decision is void, open to court appeal, and the trial is &#8220;coram non judice.&#8221;[10].<\/p>\n<p><strong>Court\u2019s opinion in the case:<\/strong> The Court held that the presence of Naqishbund on the Selection Board, while he was himself a candidate, created a reasonable likelihood of bias. Although he abstained when his own name was under consideration, he actively participated in deliberations concerning his rivals and helped prepare the preference list that eventually included his name. This compromised the fairness of the process and violated the rule of nemo judex in causa sua.<\/p>\n<p>The Court clarified that proving actual bias was unnecessary; a reasonable apprehension of bias was sufficient. His continuous involvement meant that other members could not have remained entirely uninfluenced by his presence. Court further answered the issue stating that the preference list prepared by the Board, which he helped shape, was submitted to the UPSC, which then made the final recommendations. Since the initial preparation was tainted with bias, the entire process was vitiated, even if UPSC had the final say.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"case-laws-relied\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Case_Laws_Relied_Upon_by_the_Court\"><\/span>Case Laws Relied Upon by the Court<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Frome United Breweries Co. v. Bath Justices (1926) AC 586: A decision maker is disqualified from participating if there is even a reasonable suspicion of bias.<\/li>\n<li>R. V. Hendon Rural District Council, ex parte Chorley (1933) 2 KB 696: Administrative actions are also invalid if there is a real likelihood of bias in the decision making process.<\/li>\n<li>Reg. V, Camborne Justices, ex parte Pearce (1955) 1 QB 41: Even the slightest pecuniary or personal interest can disqualify a decision maker.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3 id=\"importance-fairness\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Importance_of_Fairness_in_Administrative_Decisions\"><\/span>Importance of Fairness in Administrative Decisions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Dr. Hassan Al Imran, in \u201cProcedural Fairness in Administrative Decisions and Rights of Non-Citizens in Australia\u201d[11] tell that fairness is the guiding principle of natural justice and integral to administrative power. It operates as a check against arbitrariness and ensures that discretion is exercised in a manner consistent with the rule of law. Natural Justice applies to administrative enquiries affected rights[12] and when they have civil consequences[13]. Wade &amp; Forsyth note[14] that the duty to act fairly is now a general requirement in the exercise of administrative functions. Linked to this is the Wednesbury principle[15], which allows striking down decisions so unreasonable that no authority could have made them.<\/p>\n<p>Fairness is thus, not limited to courts and extends to administrative discretion to ensure transparency and accountability, thereby embedding the principles of natural justice.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"comparative-references\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Comparative_Case_References\"><\/span>Comparative Case References<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Krishandatt Awasthy vs State of Madhya Pradesh[16]<\/strong>: In teacher appointments, some selectors had relatives among candidates. The Court, applying Kraipak, held that even reasonable suspicion of bias invalidates the process, and expanded the principle by requiring fair hearing at every stage and reasoned orders for transparency.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Porter v Magill[17]<\/strong>: In this landmark UK case, the House of Lords held that apparent bias should be assessed by whether a fair-minded and informed observer would perceive a real possibility of bias. This UK test aligns with Kraipak for preventing bias, but focuses on appearance of bias rather than actual bias<\/li>\n<li><strong>Goldberg v Kelly[18]<\/strong>: Here, the US Supreme Court ruled welfare benefits cannot be terminated without notice and hearing. Unlike Kraipak\u2019s focus on bias, it highlighted procedural due process, requiring prior notice and opportunity to challenge decisions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"conclusion\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"impact\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Impact\"><\/span>Impact<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>This judgement established that administrative bodies cannot claim immunity from principles of fairness merely because they are not courts and that procedural improprieties, without evidence of actual prejudice can vitiate decisions. This case also reinforced judicial oversight over administrative processes[19], ensuring impartiality and integrity in public appointments.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"significance\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Significance\"><\/span>Significance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Blurred distinction between administrative and quasi-judicial functions, asserted focus on rights, rather than nature of authority.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"final-conclusion\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion-2\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Thus, this is a landmark judgement when it comes to natural justice in administrative law. It continues to guide administrative practices, promoting accountability, impartiality, and adherence to ethical standards in public service.<\/p>\n<p><b>End Notes:<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Cornell Law School, Administrative Agency, Legal Information Institute (last visited Sept 10, 2025), https:\/\/www.law.cornell.edu\/wex\/administrative_agency<\/li>\n<li>U.P.D. Kesari, Administrative Law (22nd ed. 2016)<\/li>\n<li>Board of High School &amp; Intermediate Education, UP v. Ghanshyam Das Gupta, 1962 SCC Online SC 94<\/li>\n<li>U.P.D. Kesari, Administrative Law (22nd ed. 2016)<\/li>\n<li>Garima Nagpal &amp; Peeyush Agarwal, Cement Cartel Case: A Step Towards Fairer Procedural Structure for Competition Watchdog?, 2016 PL (Comp. L.) 73<\/li>\n<li>Sahara India (1) v. CIT, (2008) 14 SCC 151<\/li>\n<li>Haryana Financial Corpn v. Kailash Chandra Ahuja, (2008) 9 SCC 31<\/li>\n<li>I.P. Massey, Administrative Law (9th ed. 2019)<\/li>\n<li>R. v. Sussex Justices, ex p McCarthy, (1924) 1 KB 256, 259<\/li>\n<li>Ranjit Thakur v. Union of India, (1987) 4 SCC 611<\/li>\n<li>Hassan Al Imran, Procedural Fairness in Administrative Decisions and Rights of Non-Citizens in Australia, 10 Journal of Indian Research (2022)<\/li>\n<li>Ridge v. Baldwin, (1963) 2 All ER 66<\/li>\n<li>State of Orissa v. Dr. Binapani Dei, AIR 1967 SC 1269<\/li>\n<li>H.W.R. Wade &amp; C.F. Forsyth, Administrative Law (11th ed. 2014)<\/li>\n<li>Associated Provincial Picture Houses v. Wednesbury Corporation, 1 KB 223<\/li>\n<li>Krishandatt Awasthy vs State of Madhya Pradesh, 2025 INSC 126<\/li>\n<li>Porter v. Magill, 2 AC 357<\/li>\n<li>Goldberg v. Kelly, 397 US 254 (1970)<\/li>\n<li>Swadeshi Cotton Mills v. Union of India, (1981) 1 SCC 664: \u201cJudicial review acts as a safeguard against arbitrary action, requiring fairness in procedure and empowering courts to correct administrative misconduct, ensuring accountability and adherence to legal standards.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Case Analysis Case Name: A.K. Kraipak Vs. Union of India Citation: AIR 1970 SC 150 Year: 1969 Petitioner: AK. Kraipak &amp; other officers Respondent: Union of India Bench: Hon\u2019ble C.J., JM Shelat, KS Hedge, AN Grover, Vashishtha Bhargava, JJ and Hon\u2019ble Mr. Justice M. Hidayatullah Facts and Arguments of the Case The Indian Forest Service<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":825,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"two_page_speed":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[28],"class_list":["post-12325","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-administrative","tag-top-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.2 (Yoast SEO v28.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>A.K. Kraipak v Union of India: Redefining Bias and Natural Justice in Administrative Action - Legal Service India - Articles<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Case Analysis of A.K. Kraipak vs Union of India (1969): Landmark judgment on natural justice, bias, administrative discretion and fair selection process.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A.K. Kraipak v Union of India: Redefining Bias and Natural Justice in Administrative Action\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Case Analysis of A.K. Kraipak vs Union of India (1969): Landmark judgment on natural justice, bias, administrative discretion and fair selection process.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Legal Service India - Articles\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/legalservicesind\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-11-28T03:37:06+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-11-28T03:42:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG_6150-1.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"716\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"716\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"AryaMallVisen\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@legalserviceind\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@legalserviceind\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"AryaMallVisen\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"AryaMallVisen\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/05eef7dbb9e7b3a883e930d72545bf54\"},\"headline\":\"A.K. Kraipak v Union of India: Redefining Bias and Natural Justice in Administrative Action\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-11-28T03:37:06+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-28T03:42:20+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1797,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/#organization\"},\"keywords\":[\"Top News\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Administrative Law\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\\\/\",\"name\":\"A.K. Kraipak v Union of India: Redefining Bias and Natural Justice in Administrative Action - Legal Service India - Articles\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2025-11-28T03:37:06+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-28T03:42:20+00:00\",\"description\":\"Case Analysis of A.K. Kraipak vs Union of India (1969): Landmark judgment on natural justice, bias, administrative discretion and fair selection process.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Administrative Law > A.K. Kraipak v Union of India: Redefining Bias and Natural Justice in Administrative Action\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/\",\"name\":\"Legal Service India - Law Articles\",\"description\":\"Legal Service India - Law Article Directory is the oldest in India since 2000, with thousands of article written by lawyers, law Students and Scholars on all branches of law\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Legal Service India\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/logo-circle-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/logo-circle-1.png\",\"width\":105,\"height\":95,\"caption\":\"Legal Service India\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/legalservicesind\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/legalserviceind\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@LegalServiceIndia-lsi\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/05eef7dbb9e7b3a883e930d72545bf54\",\"name\":\"AryaMallVisen\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"\\\/\\\/www.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/1325e6c7b43a79dc9f9cef64c0c84506?s=96&#038;r=g&#038;d=mm\",\"url\":\"\\\/\\\/www.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/1325e6c7b43a79dc9f9cef64c0c84506?s=96&#038;r=g&#038;d=mm\",\"contentUrl\":\"\\\/\\\/www.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/1325e6c7b43a79dc9f9cef64c0c84506?s=96&#038;r=g&#038;d=mm\",\"caption\":\"AryaMallVisen\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/author\\\/aryamallvisen\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"A.K. Kraipak v Union of India: Redefining Bias and Natural Justice in Administrative Action - Legal Service India - Articles","description":"Case Analysis of A.K. Kraipak vs Union of India (1969): Landmark judgment on natural justice, bias, administrative discretion and fair selection process.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"A.K. Kraipak v Union of India: Redefining Bias and Natural Justice in Administrative Action","og_description":"Case Analysis of A.K. Kraipak vs Union of India (1969): Landmark judgment on natural justice, bias, administrative discretion and fair selection process.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\/","og_site_name":"Legal Service India - Articles","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/legalservicesind","article_published_time":"2025-11-28T03:37:06+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-11-28T03:42:20+00:00","og_image":[{"width":716,"height":716,"url":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG_6150-1.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"AryaMallVisen","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@legalserviceind","twitter_site":"@legalserviceind","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"AryaMallVisen","Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\/"},"author":{"name":"AryaMallVisen","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/#\/schema\/person\/05eef7dbb9e7b3a883e930d72545bf54"},"headline":"A.K. Kraipak v Union of India: Redefining Bias and Natural Justice in Administrative Action","datePublished":"2025-11-28T03:37:06+00:00","dateModified":"2025-11-28T03:42:20+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\/"},"wordCount":1797,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/#organization"},"keywords":["Top News"],"articleSection":["Administrative Law"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\/","url":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\/","name":"A.K. Kraipak v Union of India: Redefining Bias and Natural Justice in Administrative Action - Legal Service India - Articles","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/#website"},"datePublished":"2025-11-28T03:37:06+00:00","dateModified":"2025-11-28T03:42:20+00:00","description":"Case Analysis of A.K. Kraipak vs Union of India (1969): Landmark judgment on natural justice, bias, administrative discretion and fair selection process.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-k-kraipak-v-union-of-india-redefining-bias-and-natural-justice-in-administrative-action\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Administrative Law > A.K. Kraipak v Union of India: Redefining Bias and Natural Justice in Administrative Action"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/","name":"Legal Service India - Law Articles","description":"Legal Service India - Law Article Directory is the oldest in India since 2000, with thousands of article written by lawyers, law Students and Scholars on all branches of law","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/#organization","name":"Legal Service India","url":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/logo-circle-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/logo-circle-1.png","width":105,"height":95,"caption":"Legal Service India"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/legalservicesind","https:\/\/x.com\/legalserviceind","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@LegalServiceIndia-lsi"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/#\/schema\/person\/05eef7dbb9e7b3a883e930d72545bf54","name":"AryaMallVisen","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"\/\/www.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1325e6c7b43a79dc9f9cef64c0c84506?s=96&#038;r=g&#038;d=mm","url":"\/\/www.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1325e6c7b43a79dc9f9cef64c0c84506?s=96&#038;r=g&#038;d=mm","contentUrl":"\/\/www.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1325e6c7b43a79dc9f9cef64c0c84506?s=96&#038;r=g&#038;d=mm","caption":"AryaMallVisen"},"url":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/author\/aryamallvisen\/"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12325","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/825"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12325"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12325\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12325"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12325"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12325"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}