What do you understand by Judicial Activism ?

Concept and Scope of 'Judicial Activism':

Judicial Activism is a dynamic philosophy where the judiciary proactive steps beyond traditional adjudicatory restraint to enforce constitutional rights, protect public interest, and compel negligent executive/legislative organs to execute statutory duties:

• Catalytic Instruments of Activism:
  • Public Interest Litigation (PIL): Pioneered in India by Justices P.N. Bhagwati and V.R. Krishna Iyer, diluting strict locus standi to allow any citizen to petition for the disadvantaged.
  • Expansive Interpretation of Article 21: Expanding Right to Life to include clean environment (Subhash Kumar case), privacy (Puttaswamy case), education, and livelihood.
• Institutional Significance: Fills governance vacuums, combats executive arbitrariness, and shields marginalized communities.
• Caveat (Judicial Overreach): Must avoid transgressing into pure legislative policymaking or taxation to preserve constitutional separation of powers.