What is the National Green Tribunal (NGT)?

About National Green Tribunal (NGT):

• NGT has been established under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.
• New Delhi is the principal place of sitting of the tribunal and Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata, and Chennai shall be the other four places of sitting of the tribunal.
• Composition:
  • The Tribunal comprises the Chairperson, the Judicial Members, and Expert Members.
  • The Chairperson of the NGT is a retired Judge of the Supreme Court.
  • Other judicial members are retired judges of High Courts.
  • Each bench of the NGT will comprise of at least one judicial member and one expert member.
  • Expert members should have a professional qualification and a minimum of 15 years’ experience in the field of environment/forest conservation and related subjects.
• Powers: The NGT has the power to hear all civil cases relating to environmental issues and questions that are linked to the implementation of laws listed in Schedule I of the NGT Act. These include the following:
  • The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974;
  • The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977;
  • The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980;
  • The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981;
  • The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986;
  • The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991;
  • The Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
• NGT hasappellate jurisdiction to hear appeals as a Court.
• The Tribunal is not bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but shall be guided by principles of natural justice.
• NGT is mandated to make disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of the filing of the same.