UPSC Prelims 2006·GS1·polity-and-governance·judiciary

Who was the Chief Justice of India when public interest litigation (PIL) was introduced to the Indian Judicial System?

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Last updated 23 May 2026, 3:31 pm IST
  1. AM. Hidaatullah
  2. BA.M. Ahmadi
  3. CA.S. Anand
  4. DP.N. BhagwatiCorrect

Explanation

The correct answer is D because Justice P.N. Bhagwati is widely regarded as the pioneer of Public Interest Litigation in India. During his tenure in the late 1970s and early 1980s, he introduced the concept of PIL to make the judicial system more accessible to the poor and marginalized sections of society. He famously relaxed the traditional rule of locus standi, allowing any public spirited citizen or organization to approach the court on behalf of those whose fundamental rights were being violated but who could not approach the court themselves. While Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer also played a crucial role in its development, Justice P.N. Bhagwati was the Chief Justice of India during the period when PIL became a firmly established part of the Indian legal framework.
polity-and-governance: Who was the Chief Justice of India when public interest litigation (PIL) was introduced to the Indian Judicial System?
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