Public Interest Litigation — Amendments

Amendment	Year	Description	Impact
Not a direct constitutional amendment	N/A	PIL is a judicial innovation, not a result of a constitutional amendment. However, its evolution is deeply linked to the expansive interpretation of existing constitutional provisions, particularly Articles 32 and 226, by the Supreme Court and High Courts.	The absence of a specific amendment underscores PIL's organic growth through judicial creativity. Its impact is profound, transforming the judiciary's role from a passive arbiter to an active guardian of public interest and fundamental rights, significantly broadening access to justice without altering the constitutional text itself.
42nd Amendment Act	1976	Introduced Article 39A, which mandates the state to provide free legal aid to ensure that justice is not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities. While not directly creating PIL, it provided a constitutional directive principle that aligns with PIL's objectives.	Article 39A provided a constitutional impetus for the judiciary to develop mechanisms like PIL to ensure access to justice for the poor and marginalized. It strengthened the doctrinal basis for relaxing procedural rules and actively intervening to protect the rights of those who cannot afford legal representation, thereby complementing the spirit of PIL.