Public interest litigation (Janahit Yachika)

Answer: Public interest litigation (PIL) is a case filed in a court of law for the protection of public interest, by any public-spirited person or organisation, not necessarily the affected person.

Under PIL, a petition can be filed in the High Court or the Supreme Court on matters affecting the public at large, such as pollution, adulteration of food, unsafe products, rights of consumers or violation of fundamental rights. Even a letter written to the court can be treated as a PIL. It makes justice available to the poor and weaker sections who cannot approach the court themselves, and it is a useful tool of consumer protection.