What is the meaning of "Public Interest Litigation"?

There are millions of people who are illiterate, poor and not able to move to Supreme Court to protect their rights. That is why by late 1980's Supreme Court came up with the idea of Public Interest Litigation (PIL). It is a tool through which anyone who is public spirited can approach to Supreme Court or High Court in public interest on behalf of those whose rights are violated. Justice P.N. Bhagwati and Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer are called pioneers of PIL.