Public Interest Litigation — Landmark Judgments

Landmark Judgments

Hussainara Khatoon v. State of Bihar

1979

This case is widely regarded as the genesis of Public Interest Litigation in India. It brought to light the deplorable conditions of thousands of undertrial prisoners, many of…

S.P. Gupta v. Union of India (First Judges' Transfer Case)

1981

This landmark judgment formally legitimized and expanded the scope of Public Interest Litigation in India. The Supreme Court held that any member of the public acting bona fide…

Bandhua Mukti Morcha v. Union of India

1984

This case brought to the forefront the issue of bonded labor, a grave violation of human rights. The Supreme Court, acting on a letter from an organization, treated it as a PIL…

Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corporation

1985

This landmark judgment recognized the 'right to livelihood' as an integral and indispensable component of the 'right to life' under Article 21 of the Constitution. The case…

M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (Oleum Gas Leak Case)

1986

This case arose from the Oleum gas leak incident at the Shriram Food and Fertilizers Industries complex in Delhi. The Supreme Court, in this PIL, evolved the principle of…

M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (Ganga Pollution Case)

1987

This PIL addressed the severe pollution of the River Ganga due to industrial effluents and municipal waste. The Supreme Court issued extensive directions to municipalities and…

M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (Taj Trapezium Case)

1996

This PIL focused on the environmental degradation threatening the Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, due to industrial pollution in the surrounding 'Taj Trapezium Zone'…

Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan

1997

This landmark PIL addressed the absence of specific legislation to prevent sexual harassment of women at the workplace. The Supreme Court, in the absence of parliamentary…

Vellore Citizens' Welfare Forum v. Union of India

1996

This PIL dealt with the severe environmental pollution caused by tanneries in the state of Tamil Nadu, particularly their discharge of untreated effluents into agricultural lands…

Nilabati Behera v. State of Orissa

1993

This case concerned a custodial death and the question of compensation for violation of fundamental rights. The Supreme Court held that in cases of custodial death or torture, the…

K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India

2017

This landmark judgment declared the 'right to privacy' as a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. While not a traditional PIL in its initiation, its…

Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action v. Union of India

1996

This case dealt with the environmental damage caused by hazardous chemical industries in Bichhri village, Rajasthan. The Supreme Court reiterated and applied the 'polluter pays'…

PUCL v. Union of India (Right to Food Case)

2001

This PIL, initiated by the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), transformed the 'right to food' from a Directive Principle into an enforceable fundamental right under…

Common Cause v. Union of India

2018

This PIL led to the landmark judgment recognizing the 'right to die with dignity' as a fundamental right under Article 21, permitting passive euthanasia and living wills under…