Language, Individual & Society, Volume 13, 2019

Abstract: Public interest litigation which were initiated by citizens is considered as one of the ways of the public challenging the ‘misconduct’ of the government. Public interest litigation is deemed as a check and balance against administrative actions. Therefore, it is safe to say that public interest litigation has a significant role in ensuring the good governance of a state or country. The effectiveness of the public challenging government’s conduct lies largely on the decisions established in the court cases. Nevertheless, there are cases reported against the executives that were ineffective due to the restrictive approach to locus standi. In 1988, there were cases that marked the courts fundamental shift from a liberal to restrictive approach in terms of the rules of standing which a public interest litigant was required to meet before his action against the executive can be maintained. This paper attempted to discuss the court’s approach in manifesting public interest litigation. The sort of pattern shown to curb public misconducts. All this contribute to the growth of civil society, weak nor strong.