Legal standing, also known by the Latin term locus standi ("place to stand"), is the capacity of a party to bring a claim or to be heard by a court. A claimant without standing will have the case dismissed, however strong it may be on the merits.
Rationale
Standing rules ensure that courts decide real disputes between parties with a genuine interest in the outcome, and that public authorities are not exposed to claims by busybodies. At the same time, rules that are too narrow may leave unlawful conduct unchallenged.
Private Law
In ordinary civil proceedings, the claimant must show that its own right has been infringed or that it has a direct legal interest. The principle is often summarised in the maxim point d'intérêt, point d'action: no interest, no action.
Public Law
In judicial review, English law requires a "sufficient interest" in the matter to which the application relates, a test interpreted generously for public interest groups. In Indonesia, Article 51 of the Constitutional Court Law limits applicants for constitutional review of legislation to parties whose constitutional rights are impaired: individual citizens, customary law communities, public or private legal entities, and state institutions.
Representative Standing
Indonesian law also recognises standing for environmental and consumer protection organisations meeting statutory criteria, and permits class actions under Supreme Court Regulation No. 1 of 2002, in which representatives sue on behalf of a group sharing common facts and legal grounds.