A STUDY ON COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION: A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL APPROACH

AUTHORS – S.THUHINI* & DR. M.D. CHINNU**

* STUDENT AT SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE IN LAW, THE TAMILNADU DR. AMBEDKAR LAW UNIVERSITY, CHENNAI-600040

** ASSISTANT PROFESSOR. DEPT. OF ECONOMICS, SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE IN LAW, THE TAMILNADU DR. AMBEDKAR LAW UNIVERSITY ,CHENNAI-600113

. BEST CITATION – S.THUHINI & DR. M.D. CHINNU, A STUDY ON COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION: A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL APPROACH, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (2) OF 2026, PG. 929-942, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

Abstract

This study examines civil Public Interest Litigation through the lens of economic cost–benefit analysis (CBA), arguing that economic evaluation can serve as a complementary tool to enhance judicial efficiency without undermining the constitutional objectives of PIL. Using doctrinal research methodology, the study analyses judicial precedents, scholarly literature, and procedural practices to highlight the absence of structured economic scrutiny in civil PIL adjudication. It demonstrates how incorporating CBA at the admission and remedial stages can assist courts in prioritising high-impact cases, designing implementable remedies, and filtering out petitions that impose disproportionate costs relative to their public benefit. The study concludes that integrating economic cost–benefit analysis into civil PIL practice can strengthen judicial discipline, improve resource allocation, and preserve the legitimacy of PIL as a mechanism for genuine public interest litigation.

Keywords: Public Interest Litigation ,Economic Cost–Benefit Analysis, Civil Justice System, Judicial Efficiency, Frivolous Litigation