Q1. Which constitutional articles allow individuals to file PIL in India?
- Articles 15 and 21
- Articles 14 and 32
- Articles 32 and 226
- Articles 19 and 21
Correct Option: 3. Articles 32 and 226
Explanation: Article 32 of the Indian Constitution provides the right to constitutional remedies, allowing individuals to approach the Supreme Court directly for the enforcement of fundamental rights. Article 226 allows individuals to approach the High Courts for the enforcement of fundamental rights and other legal rights. PIL is commonly filed under these provisions.
Q2. Which of the following is not a category that the Supreme Court accepts for PIL cases?
- Complaints about government policies
- Bonded labor matters
- Environmental pollution
- Police brutality and custodial deaths
Correct Option: 1. Complaints about government policies
Explanation: While the Supreme Court entertains PILs in cases related to issues such as bonded labor, police brutality, and environmental pollution, it generally does not entertain PILs regarding government policies. PILs are meant to address violations of constitutional rights or issues that affect the public interest directly, rather than policy decisions that fall within the executive’s discretion.
Q3. Which of the following principles is not followed in PIL cases?
- Locus standi is relaxed
- The case must involve a matter of personal interest only
- Public interest must be the focus of the petition
- Courts may appoint commissions to investigate the case
Correct Option: 2. The case must involve a matter of personal interest only
Explanation: In PIL, the focus is on public interest and not personal interest. Unlike traditional litigation where the focus is on resolving disputes between parties with a direct, personal stake, PIL is intended to address issues of wider social concern, such as the violation of the rights of disadvantaged groups or environmental issues.
Q4. Which of the following is a safeguard against the misuse of PIL in India?
- PILs can be used for personal grievances
- Courts can entertain any petition, regardless of its nature
- Any citizen can file PIL on any subject
- Courts will not entertain any PILs without a public-interest motive
Correct Option: 4. Courts will not entertain any PILs without a public-interest motive
Explanation: The Supreme Court has laid down strict guidelines to prevent the misuse of PIL. One such safeguard is ensuring that PILs have a genuine public-interest motive. Courts verify the credentials of the petitioner and the nature of the petition before entertaining a PIL to prevent frivolous or politically motivated petitions.
Q5. What is the main concern behind the Supreme Court’s observation on the misuse of PIL as “Publicity Interest Litigation”?
- PIL was created for political parties to resolve disputes
- PIL was meant to address public harm, not for private or political gains
- PIL was created to address personal grievances, not public issues
- PIL was meant to promote social events and cultural causes
Correct Option: 2. PIL was meant to address public harm, not for private or political gains
Explanation: The Supreme Court has observed that PIL was originally conceived to address public harm and to protect the rights of the marginalized and disadvantaged. However, in recent times, PILs have sometimes been misused for personal, political, or publicity motives, which defeats the purpose of PIL. The Court has stressed the need to filter out such cases to preserve the integrity of PIL as a tool for social justice.