Question

Two statements are given. Choose the correct option based on the statements
Statements :
1. Public Interest Litigation petitions can be filed only before the Supreme Court of India
2. A letter addressed to the Supreme Court of India has sometimes been treated as a Public Interest Litigation petition.

• A. Only (1) is true
• B. Only (2) is true
• C. Both (1) and (2) are true
• D. Both (1) and (2) are false

Hint:

PIL can be filed in the Supreme Court (Article 32) or High Courts (Article 226).
The court can relax technical rules of standing (locus standi) and procedures to hear genuine public interest matters, even accepting letters as petitions.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Verify Statement 1 about PIL jurisdiction.
Public Interest Litigation can be filed before the Supreme Court under Article 32, but it can equally be filed before High Courts under Article 226. PIL is not restricted to the Supreme Court alone. Statement 1 is false.
Step 2: Verify Statement 2 about letters as PIL.
Indian courts have developed epistolary jurisdiction, where letters and postcards written to the Supreme Court highlighting public interest issues have been treated as PIL petitions. Many landmark PILs originated this way. Statement 2 is true.
Step 3: Conclude.
Only Statement 2 is correct.
\[ \boxed{\text{Only (2) is true}} \]