Public bodies, such as governments, courts and tribunals must obey the law. The law which governs their conduct is known as public law, it requires them to act lawfully, rationally, fairly, and compatibly with the human rights of those affected by their actions.
There are occasions where important legislative and executive decisions are sometimes made unlawfully, either because they are decided following an unfair procedure or without necessary legal authority.
These unlawful decisions can have very severe consequences for both individuals and businesses. There are several ways to challenge these decisions, including:
- Invoking the complaints procedure
- pursuing the appeal (when there is a right of appeal)
- Making a complaint to the Ombudsperson
- Judicial Review
- Other court proceedings
There are time limits for taking action in public law cases and it is important to seek advice quickly if you think you have been adversely affected by the action or inaction of a public body.