Misuse of PILs: From Public Interest to Publicity Interest

Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was introduced in India as a transformative mechanism to extend access to justice to the marginalized, relaxing traditional rules of locus standi under Articles 32 and 226 of the Constitution. Landmark cases such as Hussainara Khatoon v. State of Bihar and M.C. Mehta v. Union of India exemplified PIL's potential as a shield for the vulnerable. However, this noble instrument has increasingly been weaponized for personal publicity, political rivalry, and business competition, thereby describing the drift from "public interest" to "publicity interest." This paper examines the judicial expansion of PIL, the emerging trend of motivated and frivolous litigation, and the safeguards evolved by the Supreme Court to address misuse. It argues that consistent judicial policing, coupled with greater public awareness, is essential to preserve PIL's constitutional integrity and restore its true purpose as a vehicle for social justice.