preview

Lord Parker's Definition Of Natural Justice

Decent Essays

be impartial and have no personal interest in the controversy, and further that it should give “a full and fair opportunity” to every party of being heard.Natural justice has been variously defined by different Judges. A few instances will suffice. In Drewv. Drew and Lebura , Lord Cranworth defined it as “universal justice”. In James Dunber Smith v. Her Majesty the Queen Sir Robort P. Collier, speaking for the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, used the phrase “the requirements of substantial justice”, while in Arthur John Spackman v. Plumstead District Board of Works the Earl of Selbourne, S.C. preferred the phrase “the substantial requirement of justice”. In Vionet v. Barrett , Lord Esher, M.R. defined natural justice as “the natural sense of what is right and wrong”. While, however, deciding Hookings v. Smethwick Local Board of Health Lord Esher, M.R. instead of using the definition given earlier by him in Vionet case chose to define natural justice as “fundamental justice”. In Ridge v. Baldwin , Harman, L.J., in the Court of Appeal countered natural justice with “fair play in action”, a phrase favoured by Bhagwati, J. in Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India . In H.K. (An Infant), Re , Lord Parker, C.J. preferred to describe natural justice as “a duty to act fairly”. In Fairmount Investments Ltd. v. Secy. of State for Environment Lord Russell of Killowen somewhat picturesquely described natural justice as “a fair crack of the whip” while Geoffrey Lane, L.J. in R.

Get Access