WHAT is PIL (Public Interest Litigation)?

The full form of PIL is PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION.

What is Public Interest Litigation - PIL?

In the phrase “PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION” , Public Interest means, the interest of the public at large, AND “litigation” means a legal action.

PIL is a medium through which public issues involving minority or disadvantaged groups or individuals are raised through litigation or legal proceedings.

PIL is the result of judicial activism through which an individual or a non-governmental organization or civic group can seek justice in court on issues involving large public interest. It is a method of using law deliberately to effect social change.

PIL is a Petition which is filed by an individual or citizen groups or a non-government organization in the Court pursuing justice on a problem which has a broader public interest.

The main aim of PIL is to give ordinary people access to the law to acquire legal redress for a more substantial cause , and for socially conscious citizens who would like to fix the system through a court of law, the PIL is a powerful tool.

PIL is a Petition that an individual or a non-government organization or citizen groups, can file in the court seeking justice in an issue that has a larger public interest. It aims at giving common people an access to the judiciary to obtain legal redress for a greater cause.

The Supreme Court of India has defined Public Interest Litigation as “a legal action initiated in a court of law for the enforcement of public interest or general interest in which the public or a class of the community has pecuniary or some other interest to which its legal rights or liabilities are affected.”

What is importance of PIL ?

➧Public interest litigation provides a wider scope promoting the right to equality.

➧Part III of the Constitution of India guarantees right to quality, life, and personality, and PIL ensures right to life and personality.

➧PIL is solely responsible for providing relief and remedies of the writ jurisdiction.

➧PIL practice functions as an effective instrument for changing society and ensuring welfare.

➧Anyone can seek remedy on behalf of the under-privileged class by introducing with the help of the public interest litigation.

➧Public interest litigation is the use of the law to advance human rights and equality, or raise issues of broad public concern. 

➧Public interest litigation is most commonly used to challenge the decisions of public authorities by judicial review.  Judicial review is concerned with whether the law has been correctly applied, and the right procedures have been followed. 

➧PIL is an important instrument of social change and for maintaining the Rule of law and accelerating the balance between law and justice.

➧PIL is an important tool to make human rights reach those who have been denied rights.

➧PIL helps in judicial monitoring of state institutions like prisons, asylums, protective homes, etc.

➧Holding the public accountable by/and ensuring that they make appropriate decisions, act fair and transparent within their legal powers.

➧PIL provides a voice to the voiceless and vulnerable by highlighting an important issue.

➧Raise awareness of societal issues, encourage public debates and increase accurate media coverage.