Question:

The term “Public Interest Litigation (PIL)” was first used by:

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Always distinguish between the pioneers of PIL in India (Justice Bhagwati and Iyer) and the person who coined the term (Prof. Abram Chayes).
Updated On: Jun 8, 2026
  • Justice P.N. Bhagwati
  • Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer
  • Prof. Abram Chayes
  • Prof. Upendra Baxi
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is a legal mechanism that allows individuals or groups to approach the court for the enforcement of the rights of the marginalized. While popularized in India by judges like P.N. Bhagwati, the term itself has a specific academic origin.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
- In the international legal context, the concept of "Public Interest Litigation" was famously articulated and named by the American legal scholar Professor Abram Chayes in his seminal article "The Role of the Judge in Public Law Litigation" (1976).
- While Indian judges like Justice P.N. Bhagwati and Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer are the architects of the PIL movement in India, the nomenclature itself is credited to Chayes.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The term "Public Interest Litigation" was first used by Prof. Abram Chayes. The correct option is (C).
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