Assertion (A): The concept of "locus standi" is relaxed in PIL cases. Reason (R): PIL allows any public-spirited person to approach the court on behalf of those who cannot represent themselves.
Explanation & Strategy
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Both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason directly explains the assertion. The relaxation of locus standi is the procedural mechanism through which PIL operates — it allows third parties to represent the voiceless. This was established in S.P. Gupta vs. Union of India (1981), where the SC held that any member of the public can approach the court in the interest of those who are unable to do so. The reason (representative standing for the disadvantaged) is precisely why locus standi was relaxed.