Any citizen can approach a court with his or her complaint. However, it is very difficult for poor people who are illiterate and have to earn their living on a daily basis to go to court and demand justice. It is difficult for them to protect their fundamental rights as they have no money to fight out their cases in courts. The process of justice is not only time consuming but very costly too. A lot of legal documentation is also part of the process. As a result, it is very difficult for the poor to approach the judiciary and demand justice.
Keeping this fact in mind, the Supreme Court announced the provision of the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in 1980. The Judiciary tries to reach out and give justice to as many people as it can with this system. The Judiciary has given the right to any person or institution to file a case on behalf of people from deprived classes. If any fundamental rights are being violated, then a citizen can appeal straight to the High Court or the Supreme Court.
For example :
- PIL was filed to free labourers from inhuman labour and
- to release prisoners who were not released from the jail in Bihar even after they had served their term.
