THE ROLE OF PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION IN INDIA: FROM LOCUS STANDI TO EPISTOLARY JURISDICTION

Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in India stands as one of the most remarkable legal innovations in modern constitutional democracy. Unlike traditional adversary litigation, where two private parties fight over personal rights and damages, PIL transformed the judiciary into an accessible forum for social justice. It redefined the relationship between the citizen, the state, and the Supreme Court of India. By relaxing rigid procedural requirements and pioneering the concept of epistolary jurisdiction, the Indian judiciary expanded access to justice for millions of underprivileged, marginalised, and voiceless citizens.