Q.Explain the following term/concept.
Janhit Yachika

Janhit Yachika (Public Interest Litigation – PIL) is a case filed in court by any citizen or group in the interest of the general public — not for personal gain — and is one of the ways and means of protecting consumers and the public.

'Janhit Yachika' is the Marathi/Hindi term for Public Interest Litigation (PIL). It is an important concept under the ways and means of consumer protection in the Maharashtra HSC OCM syllabus (the same idea of judicial protection of consumers appears in NCERT/CBSE Business Studies).

Meaning: Ordinarily, only the person whose right is affected can go to court. Through PIL, however, the courts allow any public-spirited citizen or a social/consumer organisation to file a petition on behalf of a group of people who are unable to approach the court themselves — for example, poor, illiterate or exploited consumers.

Purpose: the aim of a Janhit Yachika is to secure justice for the public at large and to protect their interests against wrongs such as adulteration, pollution, unfair trade practices, misuse of public money, or violation of consumer and human rights.

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