SC may frame guidlines on PIL

NEW DELHI: In a further to bid to clear the air of all confusion over the observations of a two-member Bench on the judicial activism and overreach", the Supreme Court on Friday said it will consider laying down guidelines governing public interest litigation (PIL).

"It is better to have some guidelines whether these types of PILs can be entertained," said a three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan.

The Chief Justice decided to address the issue when a PIL relating to rehabilitation of sex workers referred to it by a bench headed by Justice S B Sinha came up for hearing.

Justice Sinha had referred the matter in view of the observations made by the bench comprising Justices A K Mathur and Markandeya Katju and had said it was not clear what was the power of the court in dealing with PILs.

The Bench headed by the CJI agreed to examine the question raised by Justice Sinha while dealing with the PIL filed by an NGO, Prajawal, seeking guidelines for rehabilitation of sex workers. It posted the PIL for hearing on February 23 next year.

The Chief Justice yesterday had sought to end the controversy by saying that the observations of the two-judge Bench was not binding on it.

Welcoming today's decision, noted jurist Ram Jethmalani said "it is a very sensible thing to do".