Important Legal Definitions
Explore legal terms, clear definitions and practical examples.
Public Interest Litigation (PIL)
Prerogative Writs & Extraordinary Remedies
Definition
A procedural relaxation of the traditional rule of locus standi under Articles 32 and 226, permitting any public-spirited citizen, advocate, or NGO to approach the constitutional court to secure legal redress for marginalized or unrepresented groups.
Example
In Bandhua Mukti Morcha v. Union of India, the Supreme Court entertained an Article 32 PIL filed by an NGO to secure the release and rehabilitation of thousands of bonded laborers working in stone quarries near Faridabad.