A PIL is a legal mechanism allowing any citizen or NGO to file a case for the public interest.
Article 32 – Supreme Court Jurisdiction for Fundamental Rights Violations.
Article 226 – High Court Jurisdiction for State-Level Issues.
✅ Any Indian citizen.
✅ NGOs and Social Activists.
✅ A group of people affected by a common issue.
❌ Personal disputes.
❌ Political agendas.
❌ Frivolous or baseless claims.
To file a PIL, follow these steps:
1️⃣ Identify a public interest issue that requires legal action.
2️⃣ Collect relevant evidence (documents, reports, photos).
3️⃣ Draft a petition with the help of a lawyer.
4️⃣ Submit the petition to the Supreme Court, High Court, or relevant lower court.
5️⃣ Attend the court hearings and follow up on the case.
No, you do not need a lawyer to file a PIL. You can submit a letter petition directly to the Supreme Court or High Court. However, legal assistance is recommended for better presentation of the case.
Yes, some High Courts and the Supreme Court of India allow online filing of PILs through their official websites. However, physical filing may still be required in some cases.
The time for a PIL to be resolved varies based on the complexity of the case. Some PILs are resolved in a few months, while others take years, especially if they involve large-scale policy changes.
Yes, the court can reject a PIL if:
– It is frivolous or lacks merit.
-It is filed for personal gain or political motives.
– It does not address a genuine public interest issue.
Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is a legal mechanism that allows individuals or organizations to file lawsuits in the public interest. Unlike traditional litigation, PIL is not limited to those directly affected by an issue.
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