The doctrine of estoppel applies against the State in Indian administrative law with limitations: State can resile from promise if it is ______ statutory power, necessary for public interest, or not made with fraud/mala fides.

Estoppel against State limitations: (a) General principle: Estoppel prevents party from going back on representation that another relied upon to their detriment, (b) State exceptions: State can resile from promise if: (i) Promise ultra vires statutory power (authority lacked legal capacity to make promise), (ii) Resiling necessary for compelling public interest, (iii) Promise made with fraud/mala fides, (c) Remedy when estoppel applies: Fair hearing before withdrawal, or compensation for reliance loss (linked to legitimate expectation doctrine), (d) Rationale: Balance citizen protection (trust in government promises) with State's need for policy flexibility in public interest, (e) Applications: Tax concessions, land allotments, service conditions — courts examine whether estoppel applies based on legality, public interest, fairness. Illustrates nuanced administrative law: rights protection without paralyzing governance.