Public Interest Litigation (PIL) ek powerful tool hai – jahan koi individual apne personal fayde ke liye nahi, balki society ke larger interest ke liye court ka darwaza kholta hai. Environmental issues, bonded labour, custodial violence, migrant workers’ rights, yeh sab PIL ke through highlight hue.
Lekin time ke sath PIL ka misuse bhi start hua – political rivalry, publicity, personal vendetta. Courts ab zyada cautious ho gaye hain. Pehla sawaal yeh hota hai: petitioner ka bona fide intent hai ya hidden agenda?
Judges dekhte hain:
- Kya real affected group khud apne haq me approach kar sakta tha?
- Kya issue genuinely public importance ka hai?
- Kya facts solid hai ya sirf newspaper cuttings aur WhatsApp forward pe based hai?
Frivolous PILs pe courts ne cost lagana start kar diya, taaki judicial time waste na ho. Genuine PIL ka respect tabhi bachega jab log isko personal score-settling tool ke tareh use karna bandh karenge.
Sahi PIL carefully researched, targeted reliefs ke sath aati hai, na ki headline-chasing slogans ke sath.