The term PIL stands for Public Interest Litigation. It refers to legal action taken in a court of law for the protection of public interest.
Here are some key points about PIL:
1. Definition: It’s a litigation introduced in a court of law, not by the aggrieved party but by the court itself or by any other private party on behalf of the public interest.
2. Purpose: The main objective of PIL is to protect the rights and interests of the marginalized sections of society or to address issues of broad public concern.
3. Origin: In India, PILs were introduced in the late 1970s and were formally recognized by the courts in the 1980s.
4. Accessibility: PILs have made the judicial system more accessible to disadvantaged sections of society and have allowed citizens to raise issues of broader public importance.
5. Areas of Application: PILs can be filed in areas such as environmental protection, human rights violations, corruption in government, and other matters of public importance.
6. Procedure: Unlike traditional litigation, PILs can be initiated by sending even a letter to the court, which can then be treated as a writ petition.
7. Court’s Role: In PILs, courts often take a more active role, sometimes appointing commissions to investigate issues or monitoring the implementation of their orders.
8. Criticisms: While PILs have been praised for increasing access to justice, they have also been criticized for potentially overburdening the courts and for sometimes being misused for publicity or personal interests.
PILs have played a significant role in shaping public policy and protecting citizens’ rights in many countries, particularly in India where they have become an important tool for judicial activism.
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