{"id":25243,"date":"2026-06-02T07:59:06","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T07:59:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/?p=25243"},"modified":"2026-06-02T08:17:52","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T08:17:52","slug":"judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/","title":{"rendered":"Judicial Control of Delegated Legislation in India: Ultra Vires, Judicial Review &amp; the Demonetisation Case"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 id=\"h-abstract\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Abstract\"><\/span>Abstract<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The growth of delegated legislation in modern governance has made judicial oversight an indispensable constitutional safeguard. This article examines the scope and limits of judicial control over subordinate legislation with particular emphasis on Indian law. It analyses the doctrines of substantive and procedural ultra vires through landmark judgements from India, the United Kingdom, and the United States and traces how courts have responded to the exercise of delegated legislative power across these jurisdictions.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 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\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#Abstract\" >Abstract<\/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\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#Keywords\" >Keywords<\/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\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#I_Introduction\" >I. Introduction<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#Key_Themes_Discussed_in_the_Introduction\" >Key Themes Discussed in the Introduction<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/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\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#II_The_Concept_and_Growth_of_Delegated_Legislation\" >II. The Concept and Growth of Delegated Legislation<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#Growth_of_Delegated_Legislation_in_India\" >Growth of Delegated Legislation in India<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#Constitutional_Principle_from_In_Re_Delhi_Laws_Act\" >Constitutional Principle from In Re: Delhi Laws Act<\/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\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#Essential_Features_of_Delegated_Legislation\" >Essential Features of Delegated Legislation<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#III_Judicial_Control_A_Comparative_Overview\" >III. Judicial Control: A Comparative Overview<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#A_The_United_Kingdom\" >A. The United Kingdom<\/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\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#B_The_United_States\" >B. The United States<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#C_India\" >C. India<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#IV_Grounds_Of_Judicial_Control_Under_Indian_Law\" >IV. Grounds Of Judicial Control Under Indian Law<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#A_Substantive_Ultra_Vires\" >A. Substantive Ultra Vires<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#1_Excess_Of_Enabling_Power\" >1. Excess Of Enabling Power<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#2_Conflict_With_The_Parent_Statute\" >2. Conflict With The Parent Statute<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#3_Unreasonableness\" >3. Unreasonableness<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#England\" >England<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-5'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#India\" >India<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#4_Malafide_Exercise_Of_Power\" >4. Malafide Exercise Of Power<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#B_Procedural_Ultra_Vires\" >B. Procedural Ultra Vires<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#Key_Takeaways_Judicial_Control_Of_Delegated_Legislation\" >Key Takeaways: Judicial Control Of Delegated Legislation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#V_Judicial_Control_and_Demonetisation_A_Contemporary_Illustration\" >V. Judicial Control and Demonetisation: A Contemporary Illustration<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#A_Background\" >A. Background<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#Key_Constitutional_Issues_Raised\" >Key Constitutional Issues Raised<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-26\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#B_The_Supreme_Courts_Decision\" >B. The Supreme Court&#8217;s Decision<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-27\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#Majority_and_Dissent_Comparative_View\" >Majority and Dissent: Comparative View<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-28\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#VI_Parliamentary_Control_as_a_Complementary_Mechanism\" >VI. Parliamentary Control as a Complementary Mechanism<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-29\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#Mechanisms_of_Control_Over_Delegated_Legislation\" >Mechanisms of Control Over Delegated Legislation<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-30\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#VII_Conclusion\" >VII. Conclusion<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-31\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#Key_Takeaways\" >Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-32\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/judicial-control-delegated-legislation-india-ultra-vires-demonetisation\/#Key_Takeaways-2\" >Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The article further examines the judicial treatment of the demonetisation notification of 2016, which raised fundamental questions about executive action under delegated authority and culminated in the Constitution Bench decision in <em>Vivek Narayan Sharma v. Union of India (2023)<\/em>. The analysis concludes that while judicial review of delegated legislation is a vital constitutional check, courts tend to exercise greater deference in matters of economic policy than in matters directly engaging fundamental rights. Effective judicial control ultimately depends on the precision with which Parliament frames enabling legislation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-keywords\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Keywords\"><\/span>Keywords<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Delegated legislation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ultra vires<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Judicial review<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Demonetisation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Subordinate legislation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rule of law<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Separation of powers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-i-introduction\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"I_Introduction\"><\/span>I. Introduction<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Modern governance cannot function without a significant degree of legislative delegation. Parliament, operating under severe time constraints and confronted with increasingly specialised technical and administrative matters, inevitably entrusts a portion of its law-making function to executive authorities. This transfer of authority\u2014from the legislature to ministers, departments, regulatory bodies, and local governments\u2014is what is broadly termed delegated or subordinate legislation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the practical necessity of delegated legislation is widely acknowledged, its proliferation raises serious questions of constitutional propriety. The core concern is that law-making power, which under democratic theory belongs exclusively to elected representatives, comes to be exercised by unelected officials, often with limited transparency and scrutiny. This tension between administrative efficiency and democratic accountability lies at the heart of every debate over the legitimacy of subordinate legislation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The judiciary has historically served as the principal mechanism for disciplining the exercise of delegated power. Through the doctrine of ultra vires, courts examine whether a statutory instrument, rule, regulation, or bye-law falls within the scope of authority conferred by the parent statute. Where it does not, the subordinate legislation is liable to be declared void. This article examines the grounds upon which such control is exercised, traces the development of relevant doctrines in India, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and considers the demonetisation exercise of 2016 as a contemporary illustration of the tensions inherent in executive law-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-key-themes-discussed-in-the-introduction\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Themes_Discussed_in_the_Introduction\"><\/span>Key Themes Discussed in the Introduction<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Legislative delegation in modern governance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Administrative efficiency versus democratic accountability<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Judicial oversight of delegated legislation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The doctrine of ultra vires<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Comparative constitutional developments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Demonetisation as a case study in delegated authority<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-ii-the-concept-and-growth-of-delegated-legislation\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"II_The_Concept_and_Growth_of_Delegated_Legislation\"><\/span>II. The Concept and Growth of Delegated Legislation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Delegated legislation refers to any law made by a body other than the legislature, acting under authority expressly conferred by a primary enactment. Parliament enacts &#8216;framework&#8217; or &#8216;skeleton&#8217; statutes, leaving the subordinate authority to fill in operational details through rules, regulations, notifications, and bye-laws. The pattern is well established: the enabling act states the legislative policy, and the delegate translates that policy into workable rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The growth of delegated legislation in India has been nothing short of remarkable. Between 1973 and 1977 alone, Parliament enacted approximately 300 statutes, while the executive machinery produced over 25,000 rules and subordinate instruments during the same period.<sup>1<\/sup> This staggering ratio illustrates how delegated legislation has come to dwarf primary legislation in quantitative terms, even as the latter retains superior constitutional standing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-growth-of-delegated-legislation-in-india\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Growth_of_Delegated_Legislation_in_India\"><\/span>Growth of Delegated Legislation in India<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Period<\/th><th>Primary Legislation Enacted<\/th><th>Rules and Subordinate Instruments<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>1973\u20131977<\/td><td>Approximately 300 statutes<\/td><td>Over 25,000 subordinate instruments<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Supreme Court of India addressed the constitutional limits of delegation in the landmark <em>In Re: Delhi Laws Act<\/em> case,<sup>2<\/sup> where the majority held that while Parliament may delegate ancillary law-making functions to the executive, it cannot abdicate its essential legislative function\u2014that is, the function of laying down legislative policy\u2014to any external body. This principle remains the cornerstone of Indian constitutional law on delegation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-constitutional-principle-from-in-re-delhi-laws-act\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Constitutional_Principle_from_In_Re_Delhi_Laws_Act\"><\/span>Constitutional Principle from In Re: Delhi Laws Act<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Issue<\/th><th>Judicial Position<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Delegation of ancillary legislative functions<\/td><td>Permissible<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Delegation of essential legislative function<\/td><td>Not permissible<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Determination of legislative policy<\/td><td>Must remain with Parliament<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-essential-features-of-delegated-legislation\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Essential_Features_of_Delegated_Legislation\"><\/span>Essential Features of Delegated Legislation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Authority originates from a parent or enabling statute.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rules, regulations, notifications, and bye-laws are common forms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The legislature lays down policy, while the delegate implements details.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Delegation is justified by administrative necessity and technical expertise.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Judicial review acts as a constitutional safeguard against misuse of delegated power.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-iii-judicial-control-a-comparative-overview\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"III_Judicial_Control_A_Comparative_Overview\"><\/span>III. Judicial Control: A Comparative Overview<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-a-the-united-kingdom\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_The_United_Kingdom\"><\/span>A. The United Kingdom<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the United Kingdom, judicial review of delegated legislation has traditionally followed a restrained course. Courts have intervened principally on grounds of procedural irregularity and ultra vires but have been reluctant to second-guess executive policy choices. The position shifted substantially following the enactment of the Human Rights Act, 1998, which requires all legislation\u2014including subordinate instruments\u2014to be compatible with Convention rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The decision of the House of Lords in <em>Anisminic Ltd v. Foreign Compensation Commission<\/em> broadened the reach of judicial review by holding that errors of law\u2014not merely jurisdictional errors in the narrow sense\u2014could render a decision ultra vires. This expansive approach has had lasting implications for the review of subordinate legislation. More recently, in <em>R (Privacy International) v. Investigatory Powers Tribunal<\/em>, the Supreme Court affirmed that even tribunals created by delegated legislation remained subject to judicial review, reflecting the courts&#8217; enduring commitment to constitutional oversight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-b-the-united-states\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"B_The_United_States\"><\/span>B. The United States<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The United States Constitution vests all legislative power in Congress. The Supreme Court developed the non-delegation doctrine as a constitutional limit on Congress&#8217;s ability to transfer its law-making authority to the executive branch. In <em>Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States<\/em>, the Court struck down the National Industrial Recovery Act on the ground that Congress had delegated legislative power without supplying an &#8216;intelligible principle&#8217; to guide its exercise. While the non-delegation doctrine has rarely been applied with full rigour since, it retains constitutional significance as an outer limit on permissible delegation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The doctrine of judicial deference, articulated in <em>Chevron USA Inc. v. Natural Resources Defence Council<\/em>, subsequently directed courts to defer to an agency&#8217;s reasonable interpretation of an ambiguous statutory provision. This doctrine significantly curtailed judicial intervention in the substance of administrative rule-making for several decades, though its scope has been considerably narrowed by more recent Supreme Court decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-c-india\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"C_India\"><\/span>C. India<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Indian Constitution does not expressly prohibit delegation but imposes limits on its extent through the doctrine of excessive delegation. Under Article 13, any law inconsistent with or in derogation of fundamental rights is void to that extent. The Supreme Court has consistently held that subordinate legislation must conform both to the enabling statute and to the Constitution. Unlike its counterparts in the United Kingdom and Australia, the Indian judiciary has at times demonstrated a more interventionist posture in reviewing subordinate legislation, particularly where fundamental rights are at stake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-iv-grounds-of-judicial-control-under-indian-law\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"IV_Grounds_Of_Judicial_Control_Under_Indian_Law\"><\/span>IV. Grounds Of Judicial Control Under Indian Law<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Courts in India exercise control over delegated legislation principally through two categories of review:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Substantive Ultra Vires<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Procedural Ultra Vires<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ultra vires, literally translated as &#8216;beyond powers&#8217;, constitutes the primary basis for the invalidation of subordinate legislation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><th>Type of Review<\/th><th>Meaning<\/th><\/tr><tr><td>Substantive Ultra Vires<\/td><td>Concerns the substance and scope of delegated legislation.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Procedural Ultra Vires<\/td><td>Concerns compliance with procedural requirements prescribed by law.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-a-substantive-ultra-vires\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Substantive_Ultra_Vires\"><\/span>A. Substantive Ultra Vires<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"h-1-excess-of-enabling-power\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Excess_Of_Enabling_Power\"><\/span>1. Excess Of Enabling Power<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Subordinate legislation must remain strictly within the bounds of the authority conferred by the enabling statute. Any rule that travels beyond those bounds is void.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In <em>Dwarkanath v. Municipal Corporation of Delhi<\/em>, the central government exercised its rule-making power under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, to prescribe labelling requirements for food products. Rule 32, framed thereunder, mandated that every label carry the manufacturer&#8217;s name, address, and batch number. The court examined whether this prescription exceeded Section 23(1) of the Act\u2014which authorised regulations only to prevent misleading labelling as to quantity or quality\u2014and affirmed the principle that a delegate may not exercise any power that the parent statute has not, expressly or by necessary implication, conferred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"h-2-conflict-with-the-parent-statute\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Conflict_With_The_Parent_Statute\"><\/span>2. Conflict With The Parent Statute<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Delegated legislation may not contradict or override the very statute under which it purports to be made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In <em>Ram Prasad v. State<\/em>, Rule 87, framed under the relevant Act, reduced the quorum of a Panchayati Adalat Bench below the number prescribed by the parent statute. The court declared the rule invalid as being repugnant to the enabling enactment, reaffirming that a delegate may not use its rule-making power to override the legislative intent that the parent statute has expressly articulated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"h-3-unreasonableness\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Unreasonableness\"><\/span>3. Unreasonableness<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The treatment of unreasonableness as a ground for challenge varies across jurisdictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 id=\"h-england\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"England\"><\/span>England<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In England, bye-laws enacted by local authorities may be struck down as manifestly unreasonable. Lord Russell C.J. observed in <em>Kruse v. Johnson<\/em> that a bye-law could be invalidated if it was manifestly unjust, revealed bad faith, or involved such oppressive interference with rights as no reasonable legislature could have intended to authorise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 id=\"h-india\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"India\"><\/span>India<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In India, however, courts have consistently declined to apply a reasonableness standard to statutory rules made by central or state governments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In <em>Mulchand v. <\/em>Mukand and in <em>Subbarao v. Income Tax Commissioner<\/em>, it was held that the validity of a statutory rule, once within the enabling power, is not subject to challenge merely on grounds of unreasonableness. The underlying rationale is that ministers and departments, being answerable to Parliament, enjoy a degree of political accountability that warrants judicial restraint. Local bye-laws, by contrast, are not subject to any equivalent form of parliamentary scrutiny and remain amenable to challenge on grounds of unreasonableness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"h-4-malafide-exercise-of-power\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Malafide_Exercise_Of_Power\"><\/span>4. Malafide Exercise Of Power<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Where the rule-making authority has exercised its power for a collateral purpose or with a dishonest motive, the subordinate legislation is liable to be struck down as ultra vires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although Indian courts have not yet invalidated a statutory rule solely on this ground, the principle is well-recognised in public law. The courts&#8217; willingness to entertain the argument has been affirmed in principle, and any rule that can be shown to have been made in bad faith or in pursuit of an improper purpose would be susceptible to challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-b-procedural-ultra-vires\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"B_Procedural_Ultra_Vires\"><\/span>B. Procedural Ultra Vires<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Procedural ultra vires arises where the maker of subordinate legislation fails to comply with the procedural requirements prescribed by the enabling statute or by general law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The critical distinction is between the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Mandatory Requirements<\/strong> \u2013 Failure to comply renders the subordinate legislation void.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Directory Requirements<\/strong> \u2013 Failure may constitute an irregularity without necessarily vitiating the instrument.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In <em>Radhakrishna v. State of Madhya Pradesh<\/em>, the enabling statute required that rules be framed by the state government with the prior concurrence of the central government. Rules framed without such concurrence were declared unconstitutional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Similarly, in <em>Raja Buland Sugar Co. Ltd. v. Municipal Board, Rampur<\/em>, the Municipal Board&#8217;s failure to publish its proposals in a Hindi newspaper\u2014as the U.P. Municipalities Act, 1916, expressly required\u2014and its substitution of an Urdu daily were found to vitiate the consequent levy on the appellant company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In <em>Banwarilal v. State of Bihar<\/em>, regulations governing mining activities were framed without referring them to the mining board as the parent statute required. The court declared the regulations void, observing that the consultation requirement existed to protect the public interest and to ensure the participation of those with domain expertise before the rules came into effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-key-takeaways-judicial-control-of-delegated-legislation\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Takeaways_Judicial_Control_Of_Delegated_Legislation\"><\/span>Key Takeaways: Judicial Control Of Delegated Legislation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Judicial review ensures constitutional and statutory compliance of delegated legislation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India applies both substantive and procedural ultra vires review.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Excessive delegation remains subject to constitutional scrutiny.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Delegated legislation cannot override the parent statute.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Procedural safeguards are essential for the validity of subordinate legislation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Indian courts have adopted an interventionist approach where fundamental rights are implicated.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-v-judicial-control-and-demonetisation-a-contemporary-illustration\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"V_Judicial_Control_and_Demonetisation_A_Contemporary_Illustration\"><\/span>V. Judicial Control and Demonetisation: A Contemporary Illustration<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-a-background\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Background\"><\/span>A. Background<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the evening of 8 November 2016, the Union Government issued a gazette notification under Section 26(2) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, declaring that currency notes of \u20b9500 and \u20b91,000 denominations would cease to be legal tender with effect from midnight. This measure\u2014popularly referred to as demonetisation\u2014was among the most consequential and contested exercises of executive power in post-Independence India. The notification was subsequently given statutory form by the Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Act, 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The constitutional validity of the notification turned principally on the scope of Section 26(2) of the RBI Act. Critics argued that the provision conferred power only to demonetise a particular &#8216;series&#8217; of notes, not an entire denomination. On this reading, the notification\u2014which withdrew all notes of two denominations at a stroke\u2014was substantively ultra vires the enabling statute. The challenge also raised questions about the adequacy of prior consultation between the union government and the Reserve Bank of India before the notification was issued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"h-key-constitutional-issues-raised\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Constitutional_Issues_Raised\"><\/span>Key Constitutional Issues Raised<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Issue<\/th><th>Description<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Scope of Section 26(2)<\/td><td>Whether the RBI Act permits withdrawal of an entire denomination or only a specific series of notes.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ultra Vires Challenge<\/td><td>Whether the notification exceeded the powers granted under the enabling statute.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Consultative Process<\/td><td>Whether adequate consultation occurred between the union government and the RBI.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-b-the-supreme-court-s-decision\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"B_The_Supreme_Courts_Decision\"><\/span>B. The Supreme Court&#8217;s Decision<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Vivek Narayan Sharma v. Union of India,\u00b9\u2078 a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court upheld the validity of the demonetisation notification by a majority of 4:1. The majority held that the expression &#8216;any series&#8217; in Section 26(2) of the RBI Act was broad enough to encompass all notes of a particular denomination and that a consultative process with the Reserve Bank had preceded the notification. The majority further held that the measure did not, on its face, amount to an arbitrary or disproportionate exercise of executive power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The lone dissent by Justice B.V. Nagarathna is of particular significance to the doctrine of delegated legislation. In her view, demonetisation of an entire denomination\u2014as distinct from the withdrawal of a specific series\u2014was a measure of such far-reaching economic consequence that it required the initiative to originate with the central government by way of a formal recommendation to the RBI, rather than a notification issued at the proposal of the union executive alone. On this construction, the provision authorised a reactive, specific exercise of power and not the broad, proactive withdrawal of two entire denominations from circulation. The notification was therefore, in Justice Nagarathna&#8217;s view, ultra vires the enabling statute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The demonetisation litigation serves as a vivid illustration of the difficulty courts face when reviewing exercises of delegated power that carry significant macroeconomic consequences. The majority&#8217;s broad construction of the enabling provision reflects a degree of judicial deference to executive judgement in matters of economic policy, while the dissent articulates a more stringent insistence on explicit legislative authorisation for consequential departures from established norms\u2014an approach that is more faithful to the classical theory of ultra vires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"h-majority-and-dissent-comparative-view\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Majority_and_Dissent_Comparative_View\"><\/span>Majority and Dissent: Comparative View<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Aspect<\/th><th>Majority Opinion<\/th><th>Justice B.V. Nagarathna&#8217;s Dissent<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Interpretation of &#8220;Any Series&#8221;<\/td><td>Includes all notes of a denomination.<\/td><td>Limited to specific series of notes.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Legislative Authority<\/td><td>Notification valid under Section 26(2).<\/td><td>Required broader legislative authorisation.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Judicial Approach<\/td><td>Deference to economic policy.<\/td><td>Strict ultra vires scrutiny.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-vi-parliamentary-control-as-a-complementary-mechanism\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"VI_Parliamentary_Control_as_a_Complementary_Mechanism\"><\/span>VI. Parliamentary Control as a Complementary Mechanism<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While judicial review is the most visible mechanism of control over delegated legislation, parliamentary oversight serves a complementary function. In India, Parliament exercises scrutiny over subordinate legislation through the Committee on Subordinate Legislation in each House, which examines whether rules and regulations framed under enabling statutes are consistent with the legislative mandate and reports any excesses or anomalies to the respective House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The effectiveness of parliamentary control has, however, been questioned in practice. Wade and Forsyth observe that in a parliamentary system operating on the principle of majority rule, formal legislative controls over delegated legislation are rendered largely theoretical, since the government of the day ordinarily commands the very majority that would need to act as a check upon it. 19 This observation reinforces the indispensability of judicial review as a non-partisan and structurally independent check on executive law-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"h-mechanisms-of-control-over-delegated-legislation\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mechanisms_of_Control_Over_Delegated_Legislation\"><\/span>Mechanisms of Control Over Delegated Legislation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Judicial Review<\/strong> \u2013 Reviews the legality and constitutionality of delegated legislation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Parliamentary Oversight<\/strong> \u2013 Scrutiny through Committees on Subordinate Legislation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Procedural Safeguards<\/strong> \u2013 Ensures compliance with enabling statutes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ultra Vires Doctrine<\/strong> \u2013 Prevents excesses beyond delegated authority.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-vii-conclusion\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"VII_Conclusion\"><\/span>VII. Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Delegated legislation is an unavoidable feature of the modern administrative state. The complexity and volume of contemporary governance make it impracticable for Parliament to legislate on every operational detail. At the same time, the delegation of legislative authority carries an inherent risk of unaccountable law-making and executive overreach. The judiciary, through the doctrines of substantive and procedural ultra vires, provides the principal constitutional safeguard against these risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The analysis in this article demonstrates that Indian courts have developed a coherent doctrinal framework for reviewing subordinate legislation but that the intensity of review varies with the subject matter. In matters engaging fundamental rights, the courts have been vigilant and interventionist. In matters of economic policy\u2014as illustrated by the demonetisation litigation\u2014courts have shown a marked tendency towards deference. The disagreement between the majority and the dissent in Vivek Narayan Sharma reflects a deeper jurisprudential tension between institutional deference and constitutional discipline that is unlikely to be resolved definitively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A principled and consistent approach to judicial control over delegated legislation ultimately depends on the precision with which Parliament drafts its enabling statutes. Broad and generic grants of power make judicial control difficult and effectively insulate executive action from meaningful scrutiny. Parliament bears an equal responsibility for ensuring that the rule of law is not silently surrendered through the mechanism of legislative delegation. The effectiveness of the courts as a check on subordinate legislation is, in the final analysis, only as strong as the enabling words that the legislature chooses to write.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-key-takeaways\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Takeaways\"><\/span>Key Takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Delegated legislation is essential for modern governance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Judicial review remains the primary safeguard against executive overreach.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The doctrines of substantive and procedural ultra vires are central to constitutional control.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Demonetisation litigation highlights the tension between judicial deference and constitutional accountability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Parliamentary scrutiny complements, but does not replace, judicial oversight.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Careful drafting of enabling statutes strengthens the rule of law.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Endnotes:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>M.P. Jain &amp; S.N. Jain, <em>Principles of Administrative Law<\/em> (7th edn., Wadhwa and Company Nagpur, 2011) 51.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>In Re: Delhi Laws Act<\/em>, AIR 1951 SC 332.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Human Rights Act 1998 (UK), s 4; see also <em>R v Secretary of State for the Home Department, ex parte Simms<\/em> [2000] 2 AC 115 (HL) 131 (Lord Hoffmann).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Anisminic Ltd v Foreign Compensation Commission<\/em> [1969] 2 AC 147 (HL).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>R (Privacy International) v Investigatory Powers Tribunal<\/em> [2019] UKSC 22.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Schechter Poultry Corp v United States<\/em> 295 US 495 (1935).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Chevron USA Inc. v Natural Resources Defence Council,<\/em> 467 US 837 (1984). Note that the Chevron doctrine was substantially curtailed in <em>Loper Bright Enterprises v Raimondo,<\/em> 603 US ___ (2024).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Hamdard Dawakhana v Union of India<\/em> AIR 1960 SC 554; see also <em>Agricultural Market Committee v Shalimar Chemical Works Ltd<\/em> (1997) 5 SCC 516.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Dwarkanath v Municipal Corporation of Delhi<\/em> AIR 1971 SC 477.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Ram Prasad v State<\/em> AIR 1953 Raj 127.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Kruse v Johnson<\/em> [1898] 2 QB 91, 99\u2013100 (Lord Russell CJ).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Mulchand v Mukand<\/em> AIR 1952 Bom 296.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Subbarao v Income Tax Commissioner<\/em> AIR 1954 Mad 564.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Kruse v Johnson<\/em> [1898] 2 QB 91, 99 (Lord Russell CJ); see also <em>General Officer Commanding-in-Chief v Dr Subhash Chandra Yadav<\/em> (1988) 2 SCC 351.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Radhakrishna v State of Madhya Pradesh<\/em> AIR 1959 MP 178.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Raja Buland Sugar Co Ltd v Municipal Board, Rampur<\/em> AIR 1965 SC 895.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Banwarilal v State of Bihar<\/em> AIR 1961 Pat 24.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Vivek Narayan Sharma v Union of India<\/em> (2023) 3 SCC 1 (Constitution Bench, majority: Nazeer, Joseph, Bhat and Trivedi JJ; dissent: Nagarathna J).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>H.W.R. Wade &amp; C.F. Forsyth, <em>Administrative Law<\/em> (11th edn, Oxford University Press, 2014) 731\u2013732.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-related-links yoast-seo-related-links\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/delegated-legislation-in-india-key-judicial-pronouncements-doctrinal-evolution\/\">Delegated Legislation in India: Key Judicial Pronouncements and Doctrinal Evolution<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/doctrine-of-separation-of-powers\/\">Doctrine Of Separation Of Powers<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/minority-protection-and-the-legacy-of-foss-v-harbottle\/\">Minority Protection and the Legacy of Foss v. Harbottle<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/doctrine-of-checks-and-balances-a-comparative-study-of-the-usa-uk-and-india\/\">Doctrine of Checks and Balances: A Comparative Study of the USA, UK, and India<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/delegatus-non-potest-delegare-the-constitutional-guardrail-of-accountability\/\">Delegatus Non Potest Delegare: The Constitutional Guardrail of Accountability<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-ai-summarize yoast-ai-summarize\"><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Takeaways-2\"><\/span>Key Takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list yoast-ai-summarize-list\">\n<li>This article analyses judicial oversight of delegated legislation, emphasising Indian law, particularly the principles of substantive and procedural ultra vires.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It highlights landmark cases, including the Supreme Court&#8217;s decision on the demonetisation notification of 2016, showcasing the tensions between executive power and judicial review.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The judiciary plays a vital role in ensuring that delegated legislation adheres to constitutional standards, particularly where fundamental rights are concerned.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Comparative perspectives from the UK and US show different approaches to judicial control over delegated legislation, but all recognise the necessity for oversight.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Overall, careful drafting of enabling statutes is crucial for effective judicial control and upholding the rule of law as it relates to delegated legislation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Abstract The growth of delegated legislation in modern governance has made judicial oversight an indispensable constitutional safeguard. This article examines the scope and limits of judicial control over subordinate legislation with particular emphasis on Indian law. It analyses the doctrines of substantive and procedural ultra vires through landmark judgements from India, the United Kingdom, and<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1553,"featured_media":25409,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","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,"two_page_speed":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[4864,28],"class_list":["post-25243","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-administrative","tag-administrative-law","tag-top-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6.1 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Judicial Control of Delegated Legislation in India: Ultra Vires, Judicial Review &amp; the Demonetisation Case - 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