Question:medium

Statement: The Supreme Court of India is encouraging Public Interest Litigation
Reasons:
I To increase the reach of justice to the disadvantaged sections of society
II To quicken the pace of Justice
Identify the correct reason for the aforementioned statement.

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Think about what PIL changed: who is allowed to come to court, or how quickly the court decides. Only one of the two reasons matches that change.
Updated On: Jul 17, 2026
  • Both I and II are correct reasons of the statement
  • I is the correct reason of the statement
  • Both I and II are not correct reasons of the statement
  • II is the correct reason of the statement
Show Solution

The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Ask what problem PIL was invented to solve. The old rule was that only a person who had personally suffered an injury could bring a case. That rule left out exactly the people who suffer the most, because they lack money, literacy and access to lawyers. PIL loosened that rule so that a letter or a petition from any concerned citizen could set the court in motion on their behalf. With that purpose fixed, weigh the two reasons.

  1. Both I and II are correct reasons of the statement: This would need PIL to be aimed at both access and speed. Access is genuine, speed is not, so accepting both overshoots.
  2. I is the correct reason of the statement: Reason I restates the very purpose PIL was created for, widening access to the courts for people who could not otherwise reach them. This is the accepted account of why the Supreme Court has encouraged PIL, so this option matches the statement.
  3. Both I and II are not correct reasons of the statement: Rejecting reason I as well throws away the one reason that is plainly right. The option is too sweeping.
  4. II is the correct reason of the statement: Speed has never been PIL's purpose. A PIL is still heard through the normal court process and joins the same queue as everything else. In practice a larger volume of matters on the docket works against speed rather than for it, so this reason cannot explain the Court's stand.

The distinction being tested is between the aim of a legal device and a benefit somebody might loosely hope for. PIL was designed to change who may come to court, not how fast the court moves. Mixing up those two is what makes options (A) and (D) tempting.

Let's summarize:

  • PIL relaxed locus standi so that anyone can raise the cause of those unable to approach the court.
  • Reason I captures that purpose exactly, so it is a correct reason.
  • Reason II confuses access with speed, and PIL adds to the caseload rather than reducing delay.

So option (B) is the answer.

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