PIL Format for Supreme Court Under Article 32
Updated specimen format for a Public Interest Litigation writ petition before the Supreme Court of India under Article 32 of the Constitution, aligned with the Supreme Court Rules, 2013 (as amended), Order XXXVIII, current PIL requirements and official Supreme Court filing resources.
When an Article 32 PIL may be filed
Article 32 is the constitutional remedy for enforcement of fundamental rights. A PIL may be brought by a bona fide public-spirited person or body where the matter genuinely concerns public interest and the affected persons or class may be unable to approach the Court effectively themselves.
Under Order XXXVIII Rule 12 of the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, a PIL presented as a petition must contain prescribed disclosures about the petitioner, the cause of action, the public injury, any personal interest, connected litigation and approaches made to the concerned authority. An affidavit must also state that the proceeding is not filed for personal gain, private motive or an oblique reason.
Core disclosures to include
- Petitioner's full name, complete postal address, email, phone, occupation, annual income and prescribed identity particulars.
- Facts constituting the cause of action and the nature of injury caused or likely to be caused to the public.
- Nature and extent of the petitioner's personal interest, if any.
- Details of civil, criminal or revenue litigation having a legal nexus with the issues raised.
- Details of representations or other efforts made to obtain the relief and their outcome.
- Credentials and qualifications relevant to the subject of the PIL and, for an organisation, its registration/history and authority to institute the proceeding.
- An affidavit affirming absence of personal gain, private motive or oblique reason.
- Whether similar relief was sought before the jurisdictional High Court and the result, where applicable.
How to use this PIL specimen
Replace every bracketed placeholder with case-specific facts. The petition should identify the precise fundamental right sought to be enforced, set out the public injury, disclose the petitioner's standing and bona fides, state prior representations and related proceedings, and frame relief that the Supreme Court can lawfully grant under Article 32.
Where State legislation is challenged for repugnancy to Parliamentary law in the Concurrent List, the pleading should address Article 254 carefully, including whether Presidential assent under Article 254(2) exists and whether any later Parliamentary law affects the State enactment. Avoid a blanket assertion that every inconsistent State amendment is automatically void.
Updated Supreme Court PIL Format - Article 32
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION
WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. ____ OF 20__
(PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION)
UNDER ARTICLE 32 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
IN THE MATTER OF:
[Full name and description of petitioner]
[Complete address and relevant particulars]
...Petitioner
VERSUS
1. [Union of India / State / statutory authority]
Through [Secretary / competent officer]
[Official address]
...Respondent No. 1
2. [Other necessary respondent, if any] ...Respondent No. 2
WRIT PETITION IN PUBLIC INTEREST UNDER ARTICLE 32 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
TO,
THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE OF INDIA
AND HIS/HER COMPANION JUSTICES
OF THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
The humble petition of the Petitioner above named
MOST RESPECTFULLY SHOWETH:
1. Relief sought and public issue involved
The Petitioner is filing the present Writ Petition in public interest under Article 32 of the Constitution of India seeking enforcement of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles [specify applicable Articles] in relation to [briefly identify the public issue]. The principal relief sought is [state the precise writ, declaration, direction or other relief].
2. Grounds in brief
The impugned action, omission, enactment, rule, notification or policy is challenged, inter alia, because [briefly state the constitutional and legal grounds].
3. Petitioner's particulars, credentials and bona fides
The Petitioner is [individual / registered body]. The Petitioner's full particulars are: postal address [ ]; email [ ]; telephone [ ]; occupation [ ]; annual income [ ]; PAN [ ]; identity particulars as required [ ]. The Petitioner's credentials relevant to the subject are [ ]. The Petitioner has no personal interest, direct or indirect, except as specifically disclosed below, and the petition is filed bona fide in public interest.
3A. If the Petitioner is an organisation/body
The Petitioner body was established/registered on [date] under [law], registration no. [ ]. Its objects and history relevant to this PIL are [ ]. The person instituting this petition is duly authorised by [resolution/authority], a copy whereof is filed as Annexure [ ].
4. Facts constituting the cause of action
4.1 On [date], [material fact].
4.2 On [date], [next material fact].
4.3 The continuing/most recent cause of action arose on [date] when [fact].
5. Nature of public injury
The impugned action/inaction has caused or is likely to cause public injury by [describe affected class, scale of harm and constitutional impact]. The persons affected are [identify class/community], who [explain relevant disadvantage or inability to effectively seek relief, where applicable].
6. Source of information and supporting material
The facts pleaded are based on [official records / Gazette notifications / statutory reports / RTI material / orders / reliable public records / personal knowledge]. Copies of the material documents relied upon are annexed as Annexures [ ].
7. Personal interest, if any
The Petitioner states that [there is no personal interest / fully disclose any direct or indirect interest]. No relief of a private or personal nature is sought.
8. Connected litigation
Details of any civil, criminal or revenue litigation involving the Petitioner that has or may have a legal nexus with the issues raised herein are: [give particulars / state none].
9. Prior representations and other efforts
Before approaching this Hon'ble Court, the Petitioner and/or others made the following efforts for obtaining the relief: [chronological details of representations, proceedings and outcome]. Copies are annexed as Annexures [ ].
10. Approach to the concerned Government/authority
The concerned authority was approached on [date] by [representation]. The result was [response/no response/action taken].
11. Proceedings before the High Court / similar proceedings
The Petitioner states that [no petition seeking similar relief has been filed before the jurisdictional High Court / give full particulars and result]. To the Petitioner's knowledge, the following identical or substantially similar proceedings are pending or have been decided: [details / none known after reasonable verification].
12. Delay, if any
The petition is filed without avoidable delay. If any period requires explanation, the same is as follows: [explain].
13. Grounds
A. Because [identify fundamental right and constitutional infringement].
B. Because [identify statutory/public-law violation].
C. Because [arbitrariness, discrimination, procedural unfairness, lack of authority, proportionality or other applicable ground].
D. Because [where legislative repugnancy is alleged, plead Article 254(1)/(2), Presidential assent and any subsequent Parliamentary law with precision].
14. Grounds for interim relief
Unless interim protection is granted, [describe imminent public injury]. The balance of convenience lies in favour of [state proposed interim arrangement], and refusal of interim relief would result in [irreparable public harm].
15. MAIN PRAYER
In the above circumstances, it is respectfully prayed that this Hon'ble Court may be pleased to:
(a) issue an appropriate writ, order or direction, including a writ in the nature of [Mandamus / Certiorari / Prohibition / Quo Warranto, as applicable], thereby [precise principal relief];
(b) declare [provision/action] unconstitutional/illegal to the extent [precisely state], if such declaratory relief is maintainable on the facts;
(c) direct the Respondent(s) to [specific positive obligation] within such period as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit; and
(d) pass such other or further order(s) as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the interests of justice and protection of fundamental rights.
16. INTERIM PRAYER
Pending final disposal of the present petition, it is respectfully prayed that this Hon'ble Court may be pleased to [state narrowly tailored interim relief].
AND FOR THIS ACT OF KINDNESS THE PETITIONER AS IN DUTY BOUND SHALL EVER PRAY.
Filed by:
ADVOCATE-ON-RECORD FOR THE PETITIONER
Drawn on: [date]
Filed on: [date]
New Delhi
AFFIDAVIT / PIL BONA-FIDES DECLARATION
The supporting affidavit should verify the facts in accordance with the applicable Supreme Court Rules and specifically state that the PIL is not filed for personal gain, private motive or any oblique reason. It should also accurately identify which statements are based on personal knowledge, records or information believed to be true.
Supreme Court PIL filing checklist
- Confirm that Article 32 jurisdiction is invoked for enforcement of a fundamental right and that the matter is genuinely public-interest litigation.
- Comply with Order XXXVIII of the Supreme Court Rules, 2013 and all amendments/directions currently in force.
- Include complete PIL disclosures, petitioner's credentials, prior efforts, connected litigation and bona-fides affidavit.
- Use clear, legible pleadings and comply with the Registry's current formatting, listing-proforma, affidavit, annexure, court-fee and procedural requirements.
- Check whether an identical or substantially similar matter is pending or has already been decided, and disclose it accurately.
- For an organisation, annex proof of registration and the authority/resolution permitting institution of the PIL.
- Use the Supreme Court's current e-filing system and Registry resources for filing instructions.
Official Supreme Court resources
Filing rules and Registry practices can change. Verify the latest amendments, circulars and portal instructions immediately before filing.
Legal note
This page is a general drafting specimen, not a substitute for case-specific legal advice. The maintainability, parties, grounds, prayers, annexures and interim relief must be tailored to the facts and to the law in force on the filing date.