Public Interest Litigation (PIL)
Litigation brought to vindicate the public interest, often by a person not personally affected.
In Simple Terms
A lawsuit filed for the benefit of the public or a disadvantaged group, not for the filer's own personal gain.
Detailed Legal Meaning
PIL relaxes the traditional locus standi requirement to allow a public-spirited individual or organisation to approach a constitutional court on behalf of persons who cannot easily approach the court themselves, typically concerning matters of significant public importance such as environmental harm or violations of the rights of a disadvantaged class.