What measures has the Supreme Court taken to address frivolous PILs

The Supreme Court has taken steps to address frivolous PILs and prevent their misuse.
The Supreme Court of India has introduced several measures to address frivolous Public Interest Litigations (PILs) and prevent their misuse. These measures include:
  • Imposing costs: The court may order petitioners who file frivolous PILs to pay costs as a deterrent. This helps discourage people from filing baseless PILs for personal gain.
  • Guidelines for PIL filing: The court has laid down guidelines for filing PILs, which require the petitioner to provide a prima facie case with credible supporting documents or evidence.
  • Evaluation by judges: The court ensures that PILs are thoroughly evaluated before admitting them for hearing. Judges scrutinize the PIL to ascertain its constitutional importance and relevance to public interest.
  • Interveners and Amicus Curiae: The court allows intervention by interested parties and appoints amicus curiae to assist in hearing PILs. This helps in maintaining fairness and prevents misuse by vested interests.
  • Strict sanctions: In cases where PILs are found to be filed with malicious intent or for personal vendetta, the court may initiate contempt proceedings and impose strict sanctions.
These measures aim to strike a balance by preserving the citizens' right to access justice while preventing the misuse of the PIL system for frivolous matters.
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