Guidelines for Admitting Public Interest Litigation (PIL)

For a PIL to be admitted, the petition must clearly establish a substantial public interest and demonstrate that the issue affects a significant segment of the community. The petitioner should not be motivated by personal gain, and all conventional legal remedies should have been exhausted or proven ineffective. The judiciary uses these guidelines to filter out frivolous or politically motivated cases.

The admission process requires a careful examination of the facts, and the court may call for further evidence or clarification if necessary. In recent years, the courts have set a high threshold to ensure that only genuine cases of public concern are entertained, thus preserving the integrity of the PIL mechanism.

These guidelines, derived from judicial precedents and statutory interpretations under Articles 32 and 226, ensure that PIL remains a tool for achieving substantive justice and public accountability.