Correct Option
The correct option is Hussainara Khatoon vs. Bihar
Explanation
Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is a judicial innovation that relaxes the traditional rule of locus standi. It allows any public-spirited citizen or organization to approach the court for the enforcement of the rights of those who are unable to approach the court themselves due to poverty, ignorance, or social disadvantage. This mechanism is primarily used under the writ jurisdiction of the Supreme Court (Article 32) and High Courts (Article 226).
Option Analysis
- Hussainara Khatoon v Hussainara Khatoon vs. State of Bihar (1979) is widely cited as the first and pioneering case of Public Interest Litigation in India. The case was filed by an advocate based on a news report highlighting the plight of thousands of undertrial prisoners in Bihar who had been in jail for periods longer than the maximum sentence for their alleged offenses. The Supreme Court’s intervention led to the release of over 40,000 undertrials and recognized the "right to speedy trial" as an integral part of Article 21.
- Kesavananda Bharati vs. State of Kerala is Incorrect: Kesavananda Bharati vs. State of Kerala (1973) is the landmark judgment that established the "Basic Structure Doctrine," ruling that Parliament cannot alter the fundamental features of the Constitution.
- Golaknath vs. State of Punjab is Incorrect: Golaknath vs. State of Punjab (1967) dealt with the amendability of Fundamental Rights. The Court ruled that Fundamental Rights are transcendental and immutable, and Parliament cannot abridge them.
- Minerva Mills vs. Union of India is Incorrect: Minerva Mills vs. Union of India (1980) struck down clauses that gave unlimited amending power to Parliament and emphasized the balance between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy as part of the Basic Structure.
Key Takeaway
Hussainara Khatoon vs. State of Bihar (1979) is the pioneering PIL case in India, which focused on the inhuman conditions of undertrial prisoners and established the right to a speedy trial under Article 21.