Which landmark Supreme Court judgment introduced the 'Public Interest Litigation' (PIL) movement in India, relaxing the traditional rule of 'locus standi'?

💡 Solution & Explanation

In Hussainara Khatoon v. State of Bihar and subsequent PIL jurisprudence pioneered by Justices P.N. Bhagwati and V.R. Krishna Iyer, the Supreme Court relaxed the traditional rule of locus standi to allow public-spirited individuals to file petitions on behalf of marginalized citizens. Other judgments like Kesavananda Bharati established the basic structure doctrine for constitutional amendments rather than expanding access to justice for undertrials. This judicial innovation democratized the legal system, enabling courts to address systemic human rights violations effectively.