IMPACT OF PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION IN INDIA

Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is one of the most important developments in the Indian judicial system after independence. It was introduced to help people who cannot easily approach the courts or fight for their rights. Over time, PIL has developed into an important way of protecting fundamental rights, promoting environmental protection, ensuring human rights and improving transparency in public administration. According to data presented by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal in the Lok Sabha, 3,525 Public Interest Litigations (PILs) are currently pending before the Supreme Court of India. Of these, 698 PILs have remained pending for more than ten years, with the oldest case dating back to 1984. The number of newly admitted PILs has also increased, with the Supreme Court admitting 570 PILs in 2025, the highest annual figure recorded since 2014. At the same time, the Court disposed of 1,872 PILs over a recent five-year period, averaging around 374 disposals per year. These figures indicate that PILs are being filed at a faster rate than they are being disposed of, contributing to the growing pendency before the Supreme Court. PIL is mainly based on Articles 32 and 226 of the Constitution of India, which give the Supreme Court and High Courts the power to protect constitutional and fundamental rights. Through PIL, the courts have allowed individuals and organisations to approach them on behalf of people whose rights have been violated or who are unable to approach the courts themselves. This has helped the judiciary address several important social and public issues.