Question

The concept of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) originated in
1. United Kingdom
2. Australia
3. the United States of America
4. India

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : the United States of America

The Correct Answer is the United States of America.

• In the mid-1980s, the word PIL was coined in the United States. Various campaigns in that country had led to public interest law, which was part of the legal aid movement, since the nineteenth century.
• In 1876, the first legal aid office opened in New York.
• The PIL movement started to obtain financial support from the Office of Economic Opportunity in the 1960s, which enabled lawyers and public-spirited individuals to take on cases of the underprivileged and fight against environmental and public health threats, as well as the exploitation of customers and the poorer parts.
• Justice P. N. Bhagwati launched public interest litigation (PIL) as a means of securing public interest and demonstrating the provision of justice to socially vulnerable parties.
• It's a departure from the conventional locus standing rule. Prior to 1979, the Indian judiciary and the Supreme Court of India only heard cases from individuals that were directly or indirectly harmed by the defendant. Only its original and appellate jurisdictions were used to hear and resolve cases.
• The right to equality, life, and identity, which is guaranteed under Part III of the Indian Constitution, is referred to as public interest litigation.
• It can also be used as a powerful tool for societal progress or social welfare. Through filing public interest litigation (PIL), any member of the public or person may seek redress on behalf of the oppressed class.