Abstract

The rule of bias is an integral part of our natural justice system. It is seminal to the developments that have taken place in the field of administrative law since it is indispensable in the production of a fair administrative process. Natural justice, according to Lord Parker C.J. in Re R.N, “is the obligation to behave honestly”. On the other hand, regulatory and quasi-judicial organisations are required to act properly in order to prevent unfair or discriminatory behaviour on their part. It is a universal fact that no matter how objective one tries to act there is always some kind of bias involved in decision taking. Therefore bias can be defined as a conscious or unconscious relation to a party or issue. It is common knowledge that government officials/ politicians have the authority to sanction government projects to private individuals and in many cases their decision is influenced by a certain kind of bias that may either result from some personal relationship with one of the parties bidding or as a result of corruption processes. Administrative law in a way governs how the elected officials and private individuals interact, therefore it is not just necessary for administrative authorities to remain impartial but also take into consideration the larger public interest and confidence. Under this paper the author’s aim is to discuss the case of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna and the kinds of bias present while government officials have a general interest or some kind of personal interest in the subject- matter. The paper also aims to understand what impact such bias had on the welfare of society at large.

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