Important Legal Definitions
Explore legal terms, clear definitions and practical examples.
De Facto Doctrine
Constitutional & Public Law Doctrines
Definition
A public law principle holding that official acts performed by a judge, civil servant, or constitutional authority who holds office under a defective, irregular, or later-invalidated appointment remain valid and binding regarding the public and third parties.
Example
In Gokaraju Rangaraju v. State of Andhra Pradesh, the Supreme Court held that judgments pronounced by Sessions Judges whose appointments were subsequently quashed as unconstitutional remained legally valid and could not be challenged on that ground.