The case of Bihar Legal Support Society, through its President, v. Chief Justice of India and another [(1986) 4 SCC 767] gave impetus to PIL when the Supreme Court declared that judiciary was willing to help the disadvantaged sections of the society and protect their rights. Bhagwati C.J. wrote:

 “…the weaker sections of Indian humanity have been deprived of justice for long, long years: they have had no access to justice on account of their poverty, ignorance and illiteracy. They are not aware of the rights and benefits conferred upon them by the Constitution and the law. On account of their socially and economically disadvantaged position they lack the capacity to assert their rights and they do not have the material resources to enforce their social and economic entitlements and combat exploitation and injustice. Majority of the people of our country are subjected to this denial of access to justice and, overtaken by despair and helplessness, they continue to remain victims of an exploitative society where economic power is concentrated in the hands of a few and it is used for perpetuation of domination over large masses of human beings. This Court has always, therefore, regarded it as its duty to come to the rescue of these deprived and vulnerable sections of Indian humanity in order to help them realize their economic and social entitlements and to bring to an end their oppression and exploitation. The strategy of public interest litigation has been evolved by this Court with a view to bringing justice within the easy reach of the poor and the disadvantaged sections of the community. This Court has always shown great concern and anxiety for the welfare of the large masses of people in the country who are living a life of want and destitution, misery and suffering and has become a symbol of the hopes and aspirations of millions of people in the country”.

Part Of Judgment
Lahore High Court
Writ Petition-Criminal Proceedings-Detention/habeas
409-20
2020 LHC 200