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Among these decisions of the Supreme Court of India, which was the earliest to relax the traditional…

Sunil Batra (II) v. Delhi Administration, (1980) 3 SCC 488, was decided on 20 December 1979. The Court treated Batra’s letter about the alleged torture of fellow prisoner…

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Among these decisions of the Supreme Court of India, which was the earliest to relax the traditional rule of locus standi to entertain a public interest proceeding?

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Answer and explanation

Correct answer B

Sunil Batra (II) v. Delhi Administration, (1980) 3 SCC 488, was decided on 20 December 1979. The Court treated Batra’s letter about the alleged torture of fellow prisoner Prem Chand as a petition under Article 32. This illustrates epistolary jurisdiction and a relaxation of standing.

Municipal Council, Ratlam v. Vardhichand was decided in July 1980 and concerned enforcement of a municipal public-nuisance duty under Section 133 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Sarla Mudgal (1995) concerned bigamy after conversion, and Vishaka (1997) laid down guidelines on workplace sexual harassment.

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Option A

The Ratlam decision came in July 1980, after Sunil Batra (II).

Option B

Sunil Batra (II) is the December 1979 prisoner-letter proceeding. The 1978 Sunil Batra decision concerned a different prison-rights challenge.

Option C

Sarla Mudgal concerned bigamy after conversion and was decided in 1995.

Option D

Vishaka concerned workplace sexual harassment and was decided in 1997.

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