Which of the following are some of the landmark PIL cases in India? 1...
- Kesavananda Bharati v. the State of Kerala: This was a writ petition under A32 of the constitution. The idea of PIL did not exist in India then.
- Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan: This case was against sexual harassment at workplace, brought by Bhanwari Devi to stop the marriage of a one-year-old girl in rural Rajasthan. Five men raped her. She faced numerous problems when she attempted to seek justice. Naina Kapur decided to initiate a PIL to challenge sexual harassment at the workplace in this supreme court.
- M. C. Mehta v. Union of India: In this case, the court passed three landmark judgements and several orders against polluting industries which were more than 50,000 in the Ganga basin. The court shut down numerous industries and allowed them to reopen only after controlled pollution. In the end, millions of people escaped air and water pollution in the Ganga basin, including eight states in India.
Which of the following are some of the landmark PIL cases in India? 1...
Landmark PIL Cases in India
1. Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan
- In this case, the Supreme Court of India laid down guidelines to prevent sexual harassment of women at the workplace. The court recognized sexual harassment as a violation of fundamental rights under Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution and established the need for a safe working environment for women.
2. M.C. Mehta v. Union of India
- This case is a series of public interest litigation cases filed by environmental activist M.C. Mehta. These cases have led to significant judgments related to environmental protection and conservation. Some important cases under this series include:
- M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (1986) - This case led to the establishment of the 'Polluter Pays' principle, holding that industries causing environmental pollution should bear the cost of remedial measures.
- M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (1991) - This case resulted in the closure of highly polluting industries in Delhi, known as the 'Delhi Pollution Case.'
- M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (1996) - This case led to the shifting of polluting industries from Delhi to other locations, known as the 'Taj Trapezium Case,' to protect the Taj Mahal from pollution.
3. Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala
- This case is considered one of the most important and influential cases in constitutional law. It dealt with the question of the extent of amending power of the Parliament and the basic structure of the Constitution. The Supreme Court, in its judgment, held that while Parliament has the power to amend the Constitution, it cannot alter its basic structure. This case established the doctrine of 'Basic Structure' and ensured the supremacy of the Constitution.
Therefore, the correct answer is option 'D' - 1 and 2 only. The case of Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala is not a PIL case but a constitutional case that had a significant impact on the interpretation of the Constitution.