Step 1: Understand Public Interest Litigation (PIL)
- PIL is a legal action initiated in court for protecting the public interest or the rights of society at large, especially for marginalized or disadvantaged groups.
- It allows any public-spirited individual or organization to file a case on behalf of the public interest without being directly affected.
Step 2: Why other options are incorrect
- (A) Disputes between private individuals are private litigation, not PIL.
- (B) Personal financial interests do not fall under PIL, which serves wider social welfare.
- (D) PIL can be initiated by any individual or NGO, not exclusively by government.
Therefore, option (C) is correct.