Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is a legal mechanism by which individuals or organisations are able to sue for matters of public interest. Rather than having to be directly affected by an issue, PILs allow anybody to file a petition on behalf of any other group on issues affecting public interest which will then be heard by a court, e.g. corruption, human rights, environmental protection. Courts have discretion in admitting which PILs will be heard, and which are considered frivolous or in private interest.