Role of Judiciary in Strengthening Public Interest Litigation

Public interest litigation has historically been an innovative judicial procedure for enhancing the social and economic rights of disadvantaged and marginalized groups in India. In recent years, however, a number of criticisms of public interest litigation have emerged; including concerns related to separation of powers, judicial capacity, and inequality but has proved to be a legal weapon in the hands of higher courts for protection of environment & our judiciary has certainly utilized this weapon of PIL in best possible manner. The paper analyses the significance of PIL and role of judiciary in strengthening it. The paper also evaluates different contours of judicial activism referring to various landmark judgments.