Public Interest Litigation falls within the jurisdiction of the High C

Public Interest Litigation falls within the jurisdiction of the High Court provided certain conditions are fulfilled. Which one among the following conditions is not accepted by the courts?

Public is interested in vindication of some rights
Enforcement of public duty
Courts can examine previous records of public servants
Personal injury or loss is an essential element
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2012
The correct answer is D) Personal injury or loss is an essential element.
Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is a mechanism allowing any public-spirited citizen or organization to file a petition in a high court or the Supreme Court on behalf of a group of persons or the public at large whose rights are affected by action or inaction of the government or public authorities. Unlike traditional litigation where the aggrieved party files the suit, in PIL, the petitioner does not necessarily have a direct personal injury or loss; they represent the public interest.
PIL aims at the vindication of some rights of the public (A), enforcement of public duty (B), and can involve courts examining executive actions, which might indirectly involve examining previous records (C). The key characteristic that distinguishes PIL from traditional litigation is the relaxation of the locus standi rule, meaning personal injury or loss is *not* an essential element for the petitioner to file the case.
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