“Litigating for Light: Public Interest Litigation and the Fight for Information”
In a democracy, transparency is the cornerstone of accountability. The Right to Information (RTI) Act, enacted in India in 2005, was a landmark step toward empowering citizens by granting them the legal right to access government information. However, the promise of transparency often faces hurdles—bureaucratic delays, denials, or opaque practices—that hamper citizens’ ability to obtain crucial information. This is where Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plays a vital role, acting as a legal torchbearer in the fight for the public’s right to know. Understanding Public Interest Litigation (PIL) Public Interest Litigation is a unique judicial process that allows individuals or groups to approach courts to seek remedies for issues affecting the public at large. Unlike traditional litigation, PILs do not require the petitioner to have a direct personal interest or loss.…