Quasi-Judicial

adjective

/ˌkweɪzaɪ dʒuːˈdɪʃəl/

Possessing some but not all characteristics of a court, including the authority to hold hearings, examine evidence, and make binding decisions — as exercised by bodies like the Election Commission and National Commissions.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

Tribunals such as the National Green Tribunal and the Central Information Commission wield quasi-judicial authority, and so are bound by the principles of natural justice — issuing reasoned orders only after affording every affected party a fair hearing.

Synonyms

court-likeadjudicatoryjuridicaljudicial-styletribunal-basedsemi-judicial

Antonyms

non-adjudicatorypurely administrativelegislativeexecutive

🌱 Word Family

quasi-judicially (adv), judicialize (v), judicialization (n), judicial (adj), judiciary (n)

🔡 Root

Latin quasi = as if, resembling; jūdicialis = of courts, from jūdex = judge

📜 Etymology

From Latin quasi ("as if, resembling") + jūdicialis ("of or pertaining to courts of law"), from jūdex ("judge").

🧠 Memory Hook

"Quasi" = "as if" (Latin quam-si). A quasi-judicial body acts AS IF it were a judge in a courtroom — robe-less, but still hearing both sides and passing a binding verdict.

📝 Seen in UPSC Question Papers

Mains 2016 · GS2 · 12.5 marks — Indian Polity

Real UPSC previous-year questions whose text uses “Quasi-Judicial” — proof this word earns its place on your list.

⚖️ Polity & Constitution 📖 Seen in: Constitutional Bodies — ECI, CAG, UPSC...

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