Rajeev Suri vs Union Of India on 5 January, 2021
“52. … The courts have repeatedly held that the
government policy can be changed with changing
circumstances and only on the ground of change, such
policy will not be vitiated. The Government has a
discretion to adopt a different policy or alter or change its
policy calculated to serve public interest and make it more
effective. Choice in the balancing of the pros and cons
relevant to the change in policy lies with the authority. But
like any discretion exercisable by the Government or public
authority, change in policy must be in conformity
with Wednesbury [Associated Provincial Picture Houses
Ltd. v. Wednesbury Corpn., (1948) 1 KB 223 : (1947) 2 All ER
680 (CA)] reasonableness and free from arbitrariness,
irrationality, bias and malice.”
(emphasis supplied)
270 (supra at 133)
137
In State of Madhya Pradesh v. Narmada Bachao Andolan271,
the Court was dealing with an issue of rehabilitation of persons
displaced due to the construction of the dam. It went on to observe
that judicial interference in a policy matter is circumscribed, in the
following words: