Public Interest Litigation

Public Interest Litigation by R. Chakraborty is a comprehensive and authoritative treatise on the law, philosophy, evolution, and judicial application of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in India. Now in its 4th Edition (2026), this work offers an in-depth examination of PIL as a transformative instrument of social justice and constitutional governance.

Key Features:

• Analyses the concept of Public Interest Litigation, including the meaning of public interest, the evolution of locus standi, and the expanded constitutional role of courts under Articles 32 and 226 of the Constitution of India.
• Explains the transformation of PIL from a procedural innovation into a powerful tool for social justice, enabling courts to protect fundamental rights and improve access to justice for the poor, marginalised, and disadvantaged.
• Draws extensively from landmark judgments of the Supreme Court and High Courts, demonstrating how PIL has been used to enforce accountability and constitutional governance.
• Distinguishes between bona fide Public Interest Litigations and frivolous or motivated petitions, and discusses judicial safeguards to prevent misuse of PIL jurisdiction.
• Examines the delicate balance between judicial activism and judicial restraint in PIL matters.
• Covers a wide range of subject areas, including environmental protection, service matters, administrative action, labour rights, economic offences, detention, taxation, mining, public nuisance, governance failures, and social welfare issues.

An essential reference for advocates, judges, academicians, law students, civil servants, NGOs, and public policy professionals, this work remains a definitive guide on Public Interest Litigation and its role in strengthening the rule of law and constitutional democracy.