Document Type : Article

Authors

1 Assistant Prof. Department of Public Law, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Allameh Tabataba’i University,Tehran, Iran

2 Ph.D. Student in Public Law, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Allame Tabataba'i University , Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Despite the principle of the rule of law, sometimes administrative agencies, in exercising their authority, make decisions that are contrary to the law although such decisions take a legal form like other lawful administrative decisions. This paper seeks to answer the question whether such decisions are invalid and ab initio void, or they are valid and merely voidable. Among the various theories presented, the principles of the rule of law and ultra vires support the theory of nullity of illegal administrative decisions at the time of their adoption. On the other hand, the principles of acquired rights and legal certainty support the theory that such decisions are valid but voidable. Nonetheless, although the principle of the rule of law is in conflict with fairness to individuals, maintaining order and the rule of law requires that an illegal administrative decision be considered invalid ab initio, and in order to protect the rights of individuals, the prescription of action for judicial review of such decisions, as well as reparability and a compensation system should be provided. The case law of the [Iranian] Court of Administrative Justice seems to advance both theories. The Court’s chambers, however, tend to favor the invalidity theory while its general council prefers the voidablility theory.

Keywords

  1. English

    A( Books

    1. Ávila, Humberto (2016), Certainty in law, London, Springer International Publishing.
    2. Craig, paul (2016). Administrative Law, London,8 Edition, Sweet & Maxwell (U.K.) press.
    3. Elliott, Mark (2011), administrative law, London, oxford university press
    4. Forsyth, Christopher, Hare, Ivan(2005). the golden metwand and the crocked cord, oxford, oxford university press.
    5. Neuman, Michael (2002), the rule of law:politizing ethics,London, Trent, Ashgate publishing limited.
    6. P.Singh, Mahendra (1990), German administrative Law In Common Law Perspective, London, springer.
    7. Schonberg, Soren (2000), Legitimate Expectation in Administrative Law, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
    8. Thomas, Robert (2000), Legitimate Expectations and Proportionality in Administrative Law, London, Hart Publishing.
    9. Turk,Allexander H (2009), judicial review in EU law, London, Edward elgar publishing limited.
    10. Wade, William & Forsyeth, Christopher (2014), Administrative Law, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

    B( Articles

    1. Ahmetaj, Hysni (2014), ”Legal certainty and legitimate expectation in EU law”, Interdisplinary Journal of Research and Development, Vol. I, No.2, pp 20-27.
    2. Craig, paul (1996).“Substantive Legitimate Expectations in Domestic and Community Law”, The cambridge law journal, Vol. 55, pp.289-312.
    3. ---------------- (1998), ” Ultra Vires and the Foundations of Judicial Review”,The Cambridge Law Journal ,Vol. 57, pp. 63-90.
    4. ---------------- (1998).”legitimate expectations: aconceptual analzsis”, the law quarterly review, Vol.108, pp.79-98.
    5. Chambers, landmark (2005),”Ultra Vires Legitimate Expectations”, Journal Judicial Review Volume , Vol. 10, Issue 2, pp.147155.
    6. Claus, Laurence (2005), “Montesquieu's Mistakes and the True Meaning of Separationm”, Oxford Journal of Legal Studies, Vol. 25, No. 3, pp. 419-451.
    7. Elliott, mark (2005). “Legitimate Expectation, Consistency and Abuse of Power: the Rashid Case”, Judicial Review, Vol. 10, pp. 281-288.
    8. Elliott, mark (2003),“ Unlawful Representations, Legitimate Expectations and Estoppel in Public Law”, Journal of Judicial Review ,Vol. 8,- Issue 2, pp.71-80.
    9. Forsyth, Christopher (2001), “The legal effect of unlawful administrative acts: the theory of the second actor explained and developed”, Amicus Curiae, Vol 35. pp. 20- 24
    10. Roberts, Melanie (2001), ”Public Law Representations and Substantive Legitimate Expectations”, The Modern Law Review, Vol. 64, pp. 96-110.
    11. Schonberg, Soren J (2015), Legal Certainty and Revocation of Administrative Decisions: A Comparative Study of English, French, and EC Law, Downloaded from http://yel.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Cambridge.

     

    C( Judgements

    1. Christie v. leachinsky[1947]AC573.Hous of lords.
    2. R v MAFF, ex parte Fedesa (1990) ECR I-4023 C-331/88. European Court of Justice.

     

    References in Persian:

    1. A) Books
    2. Abbasi Lahigi, Bizan (1395), comparative administrative law, Tehran: dadgostar publishing (In Persian).
    3. Behnia, Masih (1393), principle of legitimate expectation, Tehran: khorsandi publishin (In Persian).
    4. Markaz Malmiri, Ahmad (1385), rule of law, foundations,concept, and interpretations, Tehran: islamic parliament research center publishing (In Persian).
    5. Mohaqqeq Damad, Mostafa (1391), the rule of islamik jurisprudence, civil section, Tehran: center of islamik science publishing (In Persian).
    6. Mosazadeh, Reza (1389), administrative law, Tehran: mizan (In Persian).6. Rasekh, Mohammad (1392), concept of law, Tehran: ney publishing (In Persian).
    7. The judiciary researching institute (1393), discourses in administrative court of justice, Vol.1, Tehran: the judiciary center of publishing (In Persian).
    8. Zargosh, Moshtaq (1392), Civil liability of the government and its staffs, Tehran: jungle publishing (In Persian).

     

    1. B) Articles
    2. Aqayi, Mosles, (1397), ”Thinking about the Effects of Annulment of Regulations 10. Contrary to the Law” ,public law study, No.48,pp 336-359 (In Persian).
    3. Fallahzadeh, Alimohhad (1393), “The Development of the Right to Hearing in Administrative Law of England”, public law research, No.42, pp.69-108 (In Persian).
    4. Hadavand, Mahdi (1393),“General Theory for Curing of Administrative Act” public law research, No.54, pp.197-217 (In Persian).
    5. Vaezi, Mojtaba (1393), “Comparative study of the competence of regulation with regard to the French and Iranian legal systems”, name mofid, No.79, pp. 18-162 (In Persian).
    6. Zarei, Mohammadhoseyn & Mohsenzade, Azita, (1393).”democratic administrative law and the paradigm of weberian bureaucracy” administrative law thoughts, Tehran: majd publishing, pp.15-49 (In Persian).
    7. Ziae, Rezvan; Norozi, Qodratollah & Jahanbin, Ebadollahi (1394),” a thinking in vested right in administrative court of justice judgement”, administrative law, No.8, pp.144-160 (In Persian).

     

    1. C) Judgements
    2. Decision of Supreme court of administrative court of justice as a unified judicial precedent,no.2970,1398/10/10 (In Persian).
    3. Decision of Supreme court of administrative court of justice as a unified judicial precedent,no.1948,1397/11/02 (In Persian).
    4. Decision of Supreme court of administrative court of justice as a unified judicial precedent,no.117,1391/03/01 (In Persian).
    5. Supreme court decision as a unified judicial precedent,no.699, 1385/02/17 (In Persian).
    6. Decision of Supreme court of administrative court of justice as a unified judicial precedent,no.330,1391/06/20 (In Persian).
    7. Decision of Supreme court of administrative court of justice as a unified judicial precedent,no.553,1388/08/13 (In Persian).