Public Interest Litigation (PIL)
Judicial Activism for Social Justice
Public Interest Litigation is a judicial innovation developed by the Indian Supreme Court in the late 1970s and early 1980s, primarily through the efforts of Justices P.N. Bhagwati and V.R. Krishna Iyer. PIL relaxes the traditional rule of locus standi — any public-spirited person can file a petition on behalf of those unable to approach the court themselves.
- First recognised in S.P. Gupta v. Union of India (1982) — the court held that any member of the public acting bona fide can approach the court for enforcement of fundamental rights of disadvantaged sections
- PIL can be filed under Article 32 (Supreme Court) or Article 226 (High Courts) of the Constitution
- Has been instrumental in acid attack cases: Laxmi Agarwal's PIL (2014) led to compensation framework and acid sale regulation
- Courts have used PIL jurisdiction under Article 21 (Right to Life) to direct executive action on welfare measures, environmental protection, and social justice
- The PIL mechanism is particularly significant for marginalised groups — acid attack survivors, persons with disabilities, bonded labourers — who may lack resources or capacity to file individual writ petitions
● Tracked since February 11, 2026 · last seen May 31, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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