Eesmärgikohasus

Eesmärgikohasus, a concept often encountered in legal and administrative contexts, refers to the principle that actions or decisions must be undertaken with a clear and legitimate purpose. It signifies that any intervention, regulation, or measure should be directly linked to achieving a defined objective, and that this objective should itself be lawful and justifiable.

The core idea is to prevent arbitrary or capricious actions. For a decision or action to be considered eesmärgikohasus, it must demonstrably serve a specific, recognized goal. This goal is often evaluated based on its necessity, proportionality, and relevance to the situation at hand. If an action is taken without a discernible purpose, or if the purpose is illegitimate, then it fails to meet the standard of eesmärgikohasus.

In practice, this principle requires authorities to articulate the reasons behind their decisions and to demonstrate how those decisions contribute to the stated aims. It acts as a safeguard against overreach and ensures that power is exercised responsibly. The assessment of eesmärgikohasus is crucial in administrative law and other fields where governmental or institutional power is exercised, ensuring that such power is not abused and is consistently applied towards valid objectives.