National Green Tribunal (NGT) -

National Green Tribunal (NGT) - 

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) was established on 18th October 2010 under the NGT Act of 2010 as a specialized body for handling any environmental disputes that involve multi-disciplinary issues. It was formed by replacing the National Environment Appellate Authority. It also draws inspiration from Article 21 of the Indian Constitution which assures to provide a healthy environment to the citizens of India.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is an important topic for the IAS Exam. This article will talk about NGT in detail.

National Green Tribunal

NGT Established on 18th October 2010 

NGT Chairman 2022 Justice Prakash Shrivastava

NGT Headquarters New Delhi

Is NGT a Constitutional Body? No, it is a specialized judicial body set up under the NGT Act, 2010.

Can the decision of NGT be challenged? Yes, it can be challenged before the Supreme Court within 90 days

National Green Tribunal (NGT) 

What is NGT?

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is a specialized body that was formed under the NGT Act, 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases that are related to the protection and conservation of the environment, forests, and other natural resources. India has become the third country in the world after Australia and New Zealand, to set up a specialized environmental tribunal and also the first developing country to do so. The National Green Tribunal has a total of five places of sitting namely: Bhopal, Pune, New Delhi, Kolkata, and Chennai, amongst which, New Delhi is the Principal place of sitting.

Objectives of National Green Tribunal (NGT)

Some of the major objectives of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) are as follows:

Effective and expeditious disposal of cases that are related to the protection and conservation of the environment, forests, and other natural resources.

To give relief and compensation for any damages caused to persons and properties.

To handle various environmental disputes that involve multi-disciplinary issues.

Structure of NGT

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) comprises three major bodies namely:

The Chairperson

The Judicial Members, and

The Expert Members.

Also, there should be a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20 full-time Judicial as well as Expert members in the NGT.

Term of NGT Members

All these members are required to hold the office for five years and are not eligible for reappointment.

Who appoints NGT Chairman?

The Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) is appointed by the Central Government of India in accordance with the Chief Justice of India.

Who appoints NGT members?

A Selection Committee is formed by the central government of India for the appointment of Judicial Members and Expert Members.

Important Acts in India

List of Important Environment Conventions and Protocols for UPSC

Powers of NGT

Over the past few years, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) developed as an important body for regulation of the environment and passing strict orders on issues related to pollution, deforestation, waste management, etc. Some of the major powers of the National Green Tribunal include:

NGT provides a way for the evolution of environmental jurisprudence through the development of an alternative dispute resolution mechanism.

It helps in the reduction of the litigation burden on environmental matters in the higher courts.

NGT provides a faster solution for various environment-related disputes that are less formal and less expensive.

It curbs environment-damaging activities. NGT ensures the strict observation of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) process.

NGT provides relief and compensation for any damages caused to persons and properties.

The National Green Tribunal resolves various civil cases under the following seven laws that are related to the environment:

Water Act (Prevention and Control of Pollution), 1974

Water Cess Act (Prevention and Control of Pollution), 1977

Forest Act (Conservation), 1980

Air Act (Prevention and Control of Pollution), 1981

Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991

Biological Diversity Act, 2002

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is a great initiative taken by the Central Government of India. Candidates appearing for the Civil Service Exam are advised to keep track of the latest current affairs topics related to any economic development of the country.

National Green Tribunal (NGT) (UPSC Notes):-

Frequently Asked Questions related to National Green Tribunal

Q1

Who is the present chairman of National Green Tribunal?

Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel is the chairperson of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) who took over in 2018. Justice Goel, who retired as a Supreme Court judge, has been appointed for five years. He is the third chairperson in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) since its inception in 2010.

Q2

Is National Green Tribunal a constitutional body?

National Green Tribunal is a statutory body established by a Government Notification using the powers of Section 3 of the NGT Act 2010. It has replaced the National Environment Appellate Authority.

Q3

How many national green tribunals are there in India?

The NGT has five places of sittings, New Delhi is the Principal place of sitting and Chennai, Kolkata, Pune, Bhopal are the other four.

Q4

Is National Green Tribunal (NGT) order binding?

The decision of the NGT is binding on the parties unless they approach the Supreme Court in appeal and the NGT’s order is either stayed or reversed.

Q5

What is the difference between NGT and CPCB?

The NGT provides environmental justice and helps reduce the burden of litigation in the higher courts whereas the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) promotes cleanliness of streams and wells, and aims to improve the quality of air in the country.