PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION (PIL)

NEWS: Supreme Court Judges expressed concern about misuse of Public Interest Litigation (PIL)

About PIL

Definition: Litigation filed in public interest by a person without direct locus standi.

Legal Basis:

• SC → Article 32
• HC → Article 226

Origin in India:

• Developed by Justice P.N. Bhagwati & Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer
• First major case → Hussainara Khatoon (1979) (release of undertrials)

Issues / Challenges

• Misuse: Filed for publicity, personal gain, or political motives
• Judicial Burden: Increases case load, delays regular cases
• Judicial Overreach: Courts sometimes enter policy domain
• Frivolous Cases: Weakens credibility of PIL mechanism

Significance

• Originally aimed at social justice & access to justice
• Still crucial for rights of marginalized groups