The Nature of Public Interest Plaintiff and the Rationale for Public Interest Litigation with Emphasis on Iranian Law

Mafi, Homayoun; Farhani Panah, Ali

doi:10.22059/jplsq.2025.387520.3658

Articles in Press

Document Type : Article

Authors

Homayoun Mafi ¹
Ali Farhani Panah ²

¹ Professor, Department of Private Law, Faculty of Law, University of Judicial Sciences and Administrative Services, Tehran, Iran

² PhD Student of Private Law, Faculty of Law, University of Judicial Sciences and Administrative Services, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22059/jplsq.2025.387520.3658

Abstract

Public Interest Plaintiff refers to an individual who initiates public interest litigation with the objective of supporting society beyond personal interests. The reason for the emergence of the Public Interest plaintiff can be found in the social and political transformations of the present era, responding to societies' growing need to protect public interests against institutionalized powers. The essence of public interest litigation can also be found in its public nature. These are Litigations aimed at protecting the rights and interests that belong to the entire society or a significant portion of it. The importance of this concept is increasing due to the expansion of social movements and the growing significance of collective rights. By filing claims against public or private institutions that have harmed public interests, public interest plaintiffs hold them accountable before the law and facilitate compensation for affected communities. This research seeks to answer questions about the nature of public interest plaintiffs, their impact on legal structures, and the readiness of Iran's legal system to accept and address public claims from these plaintiffs. Findings indicate that public interest plaintiffs can influence the interpretation and implementation of laws, contributing to the strengthening of democratic aspects within the legal system.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Public Law

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Public Law Studies Quarterly

The Nature of Public Interest Plaintiff and the Rationale for Public Interest Litigation with Emphasis on Iranian Law

References

References

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 22 December 2025

The Nature of Public Interest Plaintiff and the Rationale for Public Interest Litigation with Emphasis on Iranian Law

References

References

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript Available Online from 22 December 2025

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 22 December 2025