Question

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

• A. Prof. Abram Chayes
• B. Justice P.N. Bhagwati
• C. Prof. Upendra Baxi
• D. Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer

Hint:

For Environment Protection Act questions, remember that Section 3 is the most important section because it grants wide powers to the Central Government for environmental protection. Questions are often asked by mentioning a specific subsection.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Concept: Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is one of the most significant innovations in the Indian judicial system. It allows any public-spirited individual or organization to approach the courts on behalf of disadvantaged or weaker sections of society whose rights have been violated. PIL broadened the concept of locus standi and enabled greater access to justice.

Step 1: Understanding the meaning of Public Interest Litigation.
Traditionally, only a person whose rights were directly affected could approach the court. However, many poor, illiterate, or marginalized citizens were unable to seek legal remedies. To overcome this difficulty, Indian courts developed the concept of Public Interest Litigation, under which social activists, lawyers, journalists, and public-spirited citizens could file petitions on behalf of affected groups.

Step 2: Identifying the person associated with the term PIL.
Although several judges contributed to the development of PIL, the expression Public Interest Litigation itself is generally credited to Professor Upendra Baxi, a distinguished legal scholar and academician. He extensively discussed the role of the judiciary in protecting social justice and popularized the concept through legal scholarship.

Step 3: Distinguishing between the contributors and the originator of the term.
Justice P.N. Bhagwati and Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer played a revolutionary role in expanding PIL jurisprudence through judicial decisions of the Supreme Court. They transformed PIL into an effective instrument for protecting fundamental rights, environmental justice, prison reforms, bonded labour rights, and many other public causes. However, the question asks specifically about the person who first used the term ``Public Interest Litigation'' and not about the judges who later developed and implemented it.

Step 4: Arriving at the correct answer.
Since the term ``Public Interest Litigation'' was first used by Professor Upendra Baxi, Prof. Upendra Baxi Hence, the correct option is (C)