What is Doctrine of Legitimate Expectation?

The doctrine of legitimate expectation is an administrative law principle that ensures fairness in public authority actions. However, it does not create any legal right; it allows judicial review and can be overridden by public interest.

The doctrine applies when an individual has reasonable expectations of a specific outcome based on either an explicit promise made by an authority or consistent past conduct. It promotes non-arbitrary governance, aligning with constitutional fairness.

The State of Kerala v. K.G. Madhavan Pillai (1988) was the first Indian case to explore and apply this doctrine.