UPSC Prelims 2006 Q124: Indian Polity – Judiciary
Who was the Chief Justice of India when public interest litigation (PIL) was introduced to
the Indian Judicial System?
- (a) M. Hidayatullah
- (b) A. M. Ahmadi
- (c) A. S. Anand
- (d) P. N. Bhagwati
Answer: (d) P. N. Bhagwati
Explanation
Chief Justice when PIL was introduced
| Chief Justice | Link with PIL |
|---|---|
| M. Hidayatullah | CJI 1968-70, before PIL |
| A. M. Ahmadi | CJI 1994-97, after PIL began |
| A. S. Anand | CJI 1998-2001, after PIL began |
| P. N. Bhagwati | CJI 1985-86; PIL was introduced and developed in his era |
Public interest litigation was introduced in the Indian judicial system in the early 1980s through Justices P. N. Bhagwati and V. R. Krishna Iyer, and the key credit goes to P. N. Bhagwati.
Answer: (d) P. N. Bhagwati.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. M. Hidayatullah was CJI before PIL arose.
- (b) Incorrect. A. M. Ahmadi served as CJI well after PIL began.
- (c) Incorrect. A. S. Anand served as CJI well after PIL began.
- (d) CORRECT. P. N. Bhagwati is credited with introducing PIL to the Indian judicial system.
Key point
P. N. Bhagwati, along with V. R. Krishna Iyer, is credited with introducing public interest litigation in India.
Remember
PIL was introduced under Justice P. N. Bhagwati.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a later Chief Justice because PIL is well known afterwards.
- Forgetting Krishna Iyer as a co-pioneer.
- Confusing PIL with the basic structure doctrine (Kesavananda Bharati).
Exam tip
PIL: Justices P. N. Bhagwati and V. R. Krishna Iyer (late 1970s-1980s).
Sources
- S. P. Sathe — Judicial Activism in India: Transgressing Borders and Enforcing Limits (Oxford University Press, 2002)
- Supreme Court of India — S. P. Gupta v. Union of India (Judges Transfer Case), AIR 1982 SC 149