Principles of Natural Justice Definition, Nature and Scope Rule against Bias Audi Alteram Partem Post Decisional Hearing Reasoned Decisions

A college cancels a student's admission for alleged misconduct, and the first she hears of it is a notice on the board. She was never told what she was accused of, and the principal who decided is the same teacher who made the complaint. She feels the decision is wrong before she has read a single rule. That feeling has a name in law: natural justice. This topic explains its two rules, what happens when an authority breaks them, and when the rules do not apply.

In two minutes

Natural justice means fair procedure in decision-making: nemo judex in causa sua (no one judges his own cause, the rule against bias) and audi alteram partem (hear the other side); a decision made in breach is void, unless a recognised exception applies.

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