polity medium Fill in the Blank

Public Interest Litigation (PIL), pioneered through S.P. Gupta case (1981), promotes Constitutional Morality by enabling courts to address systemic violations of rights affecting marginalized groups, relaxing the rule of ______ to allow public-spirited persons to file petitions.

  1. stare decisis
  2. locus standi
  3. natural justice
  4. separation of powers

Answer: locus standi

PIL and Constitutional Morality: (a) S.P. Gupta (1981): SC relaxed locus standi (personal injury requirement), allowing any citizen/public-spirited organization to file petition for enforcement of rights of persons unable to approach court due to poverty, ignorance, or social disadvantage, (b) Constitutional Morality application: (i) Enables courts to address: prison conditions (Hussainara Khatoon), environmental degradation (MC Mehta), bonded labour (Bandhua Mukti Morcha), gender justice (Vishaka), (ii) Transforms judicial role: from dispute resolution to social justice delivery, (iii) Foundation for rights-based governance: courts guide, legislatures legislate, executive implements, (c) Safeguards: Courts developed filters to prevent frivolous PILs; focus on genuine public interest, marginalized groups, (d) Balance: Access to justice for marginalized vs preventing judicial overreach. Illustrates participatory constitutionalism: rights realization requires active citizen engagement alongside state institutions.

Topic Constitutional Morality - Public Interest Litigation Role
Exam Relevance PIL and constitutional morality frequently asked in UPSC and SSC exams
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