The Supreme Court will decide if the NGT can exercise suo moto powers without the NGT Act, 2010 explicitly granting them these powers.

Courts often exercise their suo moto jurisdiction by taking up matters based on media reports or act on letters written to them.

Over nine lakh PILs were filed in the Supreme Court between 1985-2020. The data indicates that the rate at which PILs are filed is rising.

The Indian Courts seem to have pioneered the use of suo moto powers, inspiring other South Asian Courts, including Pakistan and Bangladesh.

DESK BRIEF: Suo moto powers have been invoked to protect fundamental rights and to scrutinise state action even during the pandemic.

The Supreme Court of India has often taken up cases ‘suo moto’ without any petition being filed, or interest being brought before them.

As an offshoot of its unique PIL petitions, the SC has also taken up cases by their own notice, without any petition being filed.

The Supreme Court directed remission boards to continue hearings and release those entitled, with States submitting affidavits on compliance

This post looks into more frequent use of Suo Motu petitions.