Amicus curiae
Topic: Judiciary: Independence, Structure, Judicial Review and Activism · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Amicus curiae means "friend of the court". It is a lawyer appointed by a court to help it understand a legal or factual issue. The amicus does not represent either side. They give the court neutral help. The role is common in public interest litigation (PIL), where the people affected may have no lawyer of their own.
Example
In a PIL on prison conditions or pollution, the Supreme Court may appoint a senior advocate as amicus curiae. The amicus collects facts, studies reports and suggests what the court could order, without speaking for the petitioner or the government.
Don't confuse with
- Counsel for a party: a party's lawyer argues to win the case for their client. An amicus curiae serves only the court.
Related concepts
- Judicial activism
- Public interest litigation
- Locus standi
- Hussainara Khatoon case
- Sunil Batra case
- Bandhua Mukti Morcha case
- Epistolary jurisdiction
- Suo motu cognizance