Administrative Action vs. Judicial Review

Most of you'll know that the Supreme Court in CBI v. Rajesh Kumar (2020) held that an administrative order can be subject to judicial review if it amounts to an exercise of judicial function. Simple enough. But, here's the trap. Many students think that just because an administrative authority is exercising a quasi-judicial function, it can be reviewed by courts. Wrong!

The key here is to understand what constitutes an exercise of judicial function. The court in CBI v. Rajesh Kumar held that merely because an authority applies its mind to the facts of the case doesn't necessarily transform its order into a judicial function. What's important is the nature of the power exercised. So, be careful not to overthink this. Don't assume that just because it's quasi-judicial, it's reviewable.