LL.M. (Gold Medalist) Ph.D, NET,JRF, Asst. Professor Classic College of Law Bareilly, Affiliated M.J.P Rohilkhand University, Bareilly
JournalRVIMJ
Volume / Issue3 / 8
Pages9–13
Published06 Aug 2026
Paper IDRVIMJ38A26002
Views / Downloads4 / 0
Article summary
Abstract
Introductory Paragraph: The undeveloped concept of public interest litigation can be traced in the system of
actio popularis of Roman law which permitted anyone in the society to initiate an
action for a public delict in the court of law or to bring an action of restitution or
injunction for the protection of public property or a religious charitable property. Thus
the system of actio popularis of Roman law can be described as historical basis of the
present form of public interest litigation. The Bhopal Gas Disaster (Processing of
Claims) Act, 1985 which enabled the Union Government to file claims for damages on
behalf of the gas victims exhibits a good example of Roman actio popularis in modern
times. Different terminologies have been used for it in modern times such as class
litigation, representative action, public interest litigation, social action litigation ete,
out of all of them the term “public interest litigation” is most popular. The public
interest litigation (PIL) is one of the most important facets of the administrative law
and administrative justice. The preamble, the directive principles and the fundamental
duties of our Constitution . The judgement of the Supreme Court in Bandhua Mukti
Morcha1 is one of the cases which refers to socio-econo-mic problems and that appears
to be the reason why the Supreme Court referred to Rabindranath Tagore’s views in
the above judgement.
Keywords
Public Interest Litigation (PIL)Supreme Court of IndiaSocial JusticeLegal AidJudicial Activism
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How to cite this article
Aditya Chaturvedi (2026). Public Interest Litigation and the Role of the Indian Supreme Court as an Instrument of Social Justice. Research Vidyapith International Multidisciplinary Journal, 3(8), 9–13. https://doi.org/10.70650/rvimj.2026v3i8002
Aditya Chaturvedi. “Public Interest Litigation and the Role of the Indian Supreme Court as an Instrument of Social Justice.” Research Vidyapith International Multidisciplinary Journal, vol. 3, no. 8, 2026, pp. 9–13. https://doi.org/10.70650/rvimj.2026v3i8002
Aditya Chaturvedi. “Public Interest Litigation and the Role of the Indian Supreme Court as an Instrument of Social Justice.” Research Vidyapith International Multidisciplinary Journal 3, no. 8 (2026): 9–13. https://doi.org/10.70650/rvimj.2026v3i8002
Aditya Chaturvedi (2026) ‘Public Interest Litigation and the Role of the Indian Supreme Court as an Instrument of Social Justice’, Research Vidyapith International Multidisciplinary Journal, 3(8), pp. 9–13. Available at: https://doi.org/10.70650/rvimj.2026v3i8002.
Aditya Chaturvedi, “Public Interest Litigation and the Role of the Indian Supreme Court as an Instrument of Social Justice,” Research Vidyapith International Multidisciplinary Journal, vol. 3, no. 8, pp. 9–13, 2026. https://doi.org/10.70650/rvimj.2026v3i8002.
Aditya Chaturvedi. Public Interest Litigation and the Role of the Indian Supreme Court as an Instrument of Social Justice. Research Vidyapith International Multidisciplinary Journal. 2026;3(8):9–13. https://doi.org/10.70650/rvimj.2026v3i8002.
Aditya Chaturvedi. Public Interest Litigation and the Role of the Indian Supreme Court as an Instrument of Social Justice. Research Vidyapith International Multidisciplinary Journal 2026, 3 (8), 9–13. https://doi.org/10.70650/rvimj.2026v3i8002.
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The People’s Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) is an independent, voluntary civil liberties organization based in Delhi, India. Established originally in 1977 and adopting its current name on February 1, 1981, it investigates human rights violations, publishes fact-finding reports, and uses legal action to protect marginalized
Locus standi is a Latin term that literally means “place to stand”. In English law, it translates to the legal right or capacity of a person to bring a lawsuit, appear in court, or be heard on a specific matter
AIR 1982 SC 1473.
AIR1984SC802
(1984) 2 SCC 244; See also Laxmi Kant Pandey v. Union of India, (1987) 1 SCC 667; Sheela Barse v.Secretary, Children Aid Society, (1987) 3 SCC 50.
