Question

Two statements are given. Choose the correct option based on the statements
Statements :
1. Public Interest Litigation petitions can be filed only before the Supreme Court of India
2. A letter addressed to the Supreme Court of India has sometimes been treated as a Public Interest Litigation petition.

• A. Only (1) is true
• B. Only (2) is true
• C. Both (1) and (2) are true
• D. Both (1) and (2) are false

Hint:

PIL can be filed in the Supreme Court (Article 32) or High Courts (Article 226).
The court can relax technical rules of standing (locus standi) and procedures to hear genuine public interest matters, even accepting letters as petitions.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question gives two statements regarding Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in India.
We need to determine if PILs are restricted only to the Supreme Court, and if letters can be treated as PILs.


Step 2: Key Principle / Approach:
PIL is a legal tool developed by the judiciary to protect public interest, which can be filed under the writ jurisdiction of either the Supreme Court or the High Courts.


Step 3: Detailed Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition can be filed in either the Supreme Court under Article 32 or in the various state High Courts under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. It is not restricted to the Supreme Court alone, making the word "only" in the statement false.

• Statement 2 is correct: Under the doctrine of "epistolary jurisdiction," the Supreme Court of India has relaxed strict procedural rules.

• The court, particularly during the tenures of Justice P.N. Bhagwati and Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, began accepting simple letters, telegrams, or postcards addressed to the court from public-spirited citizens as valid writ petitions, treating them as PILs.

• Therefore, Statement 1 is false and Statement 2 is true.



Step 4: Final Answer:
Only (2) is true, corresponding to Option (B).