September 18, 2014

- A brief note and 7 hints for PIL aspirants.

In other countries, PIL ( Public Interest Litigations ) are known as " Class Actions"

1) Four or more people join hands together and file cases on behalf of people against Large Corporations and against Government Actions.

In India also, Civil Procedure Code provides for filing of such class representative suits. But public is not much aware. So this field is yet to be explored in India.

2) The Public Interest Writ Petitions filed in High Courts and Supreme Courts are known as PIL.

3) PILs are filed by individuals, by Non Government Organizations, by public welfare bodies.

4) When a person files PIL, he gets lots of publicity. So many persons file PILs just to seek publicity. This is an abuse of courts.

5) Sometimes, PILs are filed with motive to harass some people or to blackmail them. Sometimes some persons act as front of other vested rival interest people and file PIL. This is a worst kind of abuse.

6) In my view, good PIL lawyers should be free from controversies. They should be so honest that all attempts to buy them must fail. He must inspire respect even from his enemies.

7) In my view, the people should be more educated about following 7 aspects


7 Hints 

A) Four Persons can join hands and reach nearest civil court to file Representative Suit to espouse any public grievances.

B) For filing PIL in High Court or Supreme Court, four persons should file such petitions. It is not necessary that only NGO can file PIL.

C) PIL should not be filed only on basis of news reports. First, someone must give Notice and Demand action from authority. If authority fail to respond, PIL should be moved.

D) Before filing PIL, proper research should be made about Legal Rights of People. Because courts can enter only if some legal rights of people are being neglected or violated.

E) For filing PIL, you must reach to a lawyer of good reputation. Courts are very sensitive. They can throw away even a good PIL if presented through a lawyer of dubious reputation.

F) One should not desire to file PIL for getting Publicity. The cause must be sincere. You should also be sincere.

G) You should have capacity tolerate backlash of filing PIL. After filing PIL, many activities have suddenly died in accidents. In PIL, you are calling Giants to fight with you. You should know your strength and capacity to fight.

Haresh Raichura
18/9/2014