01 February 2024

Daily practice questions for CLAT - (01 February 2024)



A Public Interest Litigation, also known as PIL, is a form of litigation that is filed to safeguard or enforce the public interest. Public Interest is the interest belonging to a particular class of the community that affects their legal rights or liabilities. It may include pecuniary interest. Courts have interpreted and defined PIL. The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India has, in the case of Janata Dal v. H.S.Chaudhary (AIR 1993 SC 892), held that lexically, the expression ‘PIL’ means a legal action started in a court of law for the enforcement of public/general interest where the public or a particular class of the public has some interest (including pecuniary interest) that affects their legal rights or liabilities. PILs are considered to be the most effective as well as the most commonly used judicial tool to safeguard the environment due to their many advantages, including but not limited to speedy results, nominal court fees, relaxed procedural rules and the wide variety of investigative techniques available to courts like special committees. Any individual or organisation can file a PIL either in his/her/their own standing i.e. to protect or enforce a right owed to him/her/them by the government or on behalf of a section of society who is disadvantaged or oppressed and is not able to enforce their own rights. The concept of “Locus Standi” has been relaxed in the case of PILs so as to enable the Hon’ble Court to look into grievances that are filed on behalf of those who are poor, illiterate, deprived or disabled and are unable to approach the courts themselves. However, only a person acting in good faith and who has sufficient interest in the proceeding will have the locus standi to file a PIL. A person who approaches the Hon’ble Court for personal gain, private profit, political or any oblique consideration will not be entertained. Suo moto cognizance may also be taken by the Court.

Question1:- Which provision of the Indian constitution provides the definition of the term ‘Public Interest Litigation’?
  • A. Article 32 <>B. Article 226
  • C. Article 227
  • D. None of the above
Answer is D is correct. There is no constitutional or statutory provision which defines the concept of Public Interest Litigation. It pertains to a litigation undertaken to secure public interest and demonstrates the availability of justice to socially-disadvantaged parties. Therefore, Option D is the correct answer.
Question2:- Which of the following judges introduced the concept of PIL in India?
  • A. Justice M Katju <>B. Justice H R Khanna
  • C. Justice P N Bhagwati
  • D. Justice H J Kania
Answer is C is correct. Justice P N Bhagwati is the pioneer of Public Interest Litigation in India and he introduced the concept to provide relaxation in the traditional rule of locus standi for ‘public justice’. Therefore, Option C is the correct answer.
Question3:- Which of the following best describes the meaning of the term ‘locus standi’?
  • A. The right of a party to approach the court. <>B. The right of a party to withdraw from a suit.
  • C. The discretionary power of a judge to entertain a case.
  • D. The capacity of a party to contract.
Answer is A is correct. In Latin, the term ‘locus standi’ literally translates to ‘place of standing’. It denotes the right or capacity of a party to approach the court for the enforcement of a right, which is wider and exercisable for public good in the context of PIL.Therefore, Option A is the correct answer.
Question4:- Which of the following best describes the meaning of 'suo moto' cognizance?
  • A. An action taken by a court of its own accord. <>B. An action taken by a court at the request of the plaintiff.
  • C. An action taken by the court at the request of a lower court.
  • D. An action taken by the court to rectify its own previous judgement.
Answer is A is correct. The term 'suo moto' cognisance means an action taken by a court of its own accord, without any request by the parties involved. Therefore, Option A is the correct answer.
Question5:- The concept of Public Interest Litigation can be said to be in coherence with which of the following concepts?
  • A. Judicial review <>B. Judicial interpretation
  • C. Judicial activism
  • D. Judicial independence
Answer is C is correct. The concept of Public Interest Litigation can be said to be linked closely with the concept of judicial activism, which provides for the outreach of the principles of constitutionalism within the democracy at large. Therefore, Option C is the correct answer.

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