Public interest litigation is a legal weapon that is useful for those who approach the court not for themselves but for the welfare of society. So PIL is the most direct way.

Do you not like the things happening around you? Do you feel that the common people are not getting the rights that the Constitution has given them? Or do you feel that the government's policies are having a bad effect on someone's life like the rights of a poor person are being snatched away, or discrimination and corruption are increasing in society? If yes, then you must know about PIL (Public Interest Litigation).

What is PIL? Know the answer

Public interest litigation is a legal weapon that is useful for those who approach the court not for themselves but for the welfare of the society. In this, you can directly file a petition in the High Court or Supreme Court without any lawyer. Your intention should be clear and the matter should be such that it affects the entire society or a class. This is the best way for those people who want to bring about a change in the society, but they have neither power, nor money, nor any big position. PIL gives them a voice, that too in the biggest courts of the country. Remember that PILs are filed only in the Supreme Court under Article 32 of the Indian Constitution and in the High Court under Article 226.

Some important rules related to PIL

1- Any aware citizen or social organization can file a PIL in the public interest, even if it has not suffered any direct loss from that matter.

2- If a person cannot reach the court, then he can convey his point to the Supreme Court or High Court by just sending a simple postcard.

3- The court has the power that if it wants, it can waive the fee or court fee charged on the PIL, so that even a poor person can seek justice.

4- PIL can be filed not only against the government or government departments, but also against any private institution or company, if the matter is related to the public.

Supreme Court or High Court can appoint a lawyer itself

Supreme Court Rules, 2013 and the Constitution of India both allow public interest litigation (PIL) to common citizens. Many times, responsible people at the public level have clarified that if a person feels that a matter is related to public interest, whether it is related to environment, education, health, human rights, corruption or exploitation of weaker sections, then he can send a petition directly to the Supreme Court without the help of any lawyer. The court itself can accept such a case and appoint a lawyer.