Important Legal Definitions
Explore legal terms, clear definitions and practical examples.
Non-Arbitrariness (Article 14 - Royappa Doctrine)
Constitutional & Public Law Doctrines
Definition
The landmark shift in equality jurisprudence introduced in E.P. Royappa v. State of Tamil Nadu, establishing that equality is a dynamic concept opposed to arbitrariness; an arbitrary State action automatically violates Article 14 without needing to prove class-based discrimination.
Example
An executive authority cancels a public license awarded through a fair auction without recording any written reasons or changing circumstances; the cancellation is quashed for manifest arbitrariness under Article 14.