Miquel41G60448 at 10:52, 13 March 2026

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{{Short description|Indian Legal Affairs department}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox government agency
| headquarters = Copernicus Marg, New Delhi, India
| budget = {{INRConvert|52.68|c}} <small>(2025{{ndash}}26)</small><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 February 2025 |title=Demand NO. 28, Demands for Grants, 2025-2026, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change |url=https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/doc/eb/sbe28.pdf |access-date=1 Feb 2025 |website=IndiaBudget.gov.in |pages=5 |publication-place=[[New Delhi]]}}</ref>
| chief6_name = Afroz Ahmad
| chief6_position = Expert Member
| parent_agency = [[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)|Ministry of Law and Justice, Department of Legal Affairs]]
| logo =
| formed = 2010
| chief1_name = Justice Prakash Shrivastava
| chief1_position = Chairperson
| chief2_name = Arun Kumar Verma
| chief2_position = Expert Member
| chief3_name = Satyagopal Korlapati
| chief3_position = Expert Member
| chief4_name = Vijay Kulkarni
| chief4_position = Expert Member
| chief5_name = A Senthil Vel
| chief5_position = Expert Member
| website = {{URL|https://www.greentribunal.gov.in/}}
}}
{{Courts of India}}

The '''National Green Tribunal''' ('''NGT''') is a [[statutory body]] in India that focuses on expeditious disposal of cases related to [[environmental protection|the protection of the natural environment]] and [[natural resource]]s. It was set up under the [[National Green Tribunal Act]] in 2010. India is the third country in the world,{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}} after [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]], to set up a statutory body for environmental protection. Its national headquarters is in [[New Delhi]], with regional headquarters in the cities of [[Bhopal]], [[Pune]], [[Kolkata]] and [[Chennai]].

== History and objective ==

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) was formed in 2010 under [[National Green Tribunal Act]] as a statutory body to deal with the cases related to environmental issues<ref name="ng2">{{cite news |title=National Green tribunal does not have suo motu powers: Centre to Supreme Court |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ngt-can-act-on-letters-communication-but-not-on-news-reports-centre-tells-sc-101630596253070.html |access-date=5 April 2022 |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=2 September 2021 |language=en}}</ref> and speedy implementation of decisions relating to them. The tribunal has a mandate to dispose of applications and petitions within six months.

The NGT has given many prominent decisions, such as banning diesel vehicles older than 15 years in Delhi to reduce air pollution.{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}} The tribunal in a separate order cancelled the clearance of coal blocks in the forests of Hasdeo-Arand situated in [[Chhattisgarh]] state.{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}

The Kolkata bench of the National Green Tribunal banned construction activities and solid waste and noise pollution in the [[Sundarbans|Sunderban]], being an eco-sensitive region to protect the wildlife, in November 2016.{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}

== Composition ==

National Green Tribunal with Headquarters in Delhi<ref name="ng1">{{cite news |title=NGT to resume physical hearing with hybrid option from March 21 onwards |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/ngt-to-resume-physical-hearing-with-hybrid-option-from-march-21-onwards-122031800444_1.html |access-date=5 April 2022 |publisher=Business Standard India |date=18 March 2022}}</ref> consists of chairperson who should have been retired as Supreme Court judge. The Judicial members of the tribunal should have been retired as Judge of the High Courts. National Green Tribunal bench consists of ten Judicial Members and ten Expert Members.<ref name="ng4">{{cite news |last1=Ramesh |first1=M. |title=Turning a decade-old, NGT faces some tough questions |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/turning-a-decade-old-ngt-faces-some-tough-questions/article62194300.ece |access-date=5 April 2022 |publisher=thehindubusinessline.com |date=16 October 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Any person having a professional qualification with 15 years minimum experience in the subjects of forest conservation and environment and similar areas can qualify for expert member.

[[Jawad Rahim|Justice Dr Jawad Rahim]], a former [[Judge]] of [[Karnataka High Court|High Court of Karnataka]], was appointed as an acting chairman in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-03-28 |title=Justice Rahim appointed acting chairperson of NGT |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/justice-rahim-appointed-acting-chairperson-of-ngt-5113810/ |access-date=2024-01-11 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mandhani |first=Apoorva |date=2018-03-27 |title=Former Karnataka HC Judge Jawad Rahim Appointed As Acting Chairperson Of National Green Tribunal By SC [Read Order] |url=https://www.livelaw.in/former-karnataka-hc-judge-jawad-rahim-appointed-acting-chairperson-national-green-tribunal-sc-read-order/ |access-date=2024-01-11 |website=www.livelaw.in |language=en}}</ref> Justice Prakash Shrivastava is the Current Chairman of National Green Tribunal Chairperson since August 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hon'ble Mr. Justice Prakash Shrivastava |url=https://greentribunal.gov.in/honble-mr-justice-prakash-shrivastava |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111075421/https://greentribunal.gov.in/honble-mr-justice-prakash-shrivastava |archive-date=2024-01-11 |access-date=2024-01-11 |website=National Green Tribunal}}</ref>

== Powers ==

National Green Tribunal has been bestowed with powers to decide on questions for implementing laws mentioned in Schedule I of the NGT Act and to be heard on all cases which are civil in nature and deals with environmental issues as follows:<ref name="ng6">{{cite news |title=National Green Tribunal (NGT) - Chronicleindia |url=https://www.chronicleindia.in/current-affairs/103-national-green-tribunal-ngt |access-date=5 April 2022 |publisher=chronicleindia.in |language=english}}</ref>

* 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.

National Green Tribunal handles every violation related to above laws or any Government decision or order covered under above laws. However, the tribunal has been prohibited to hear any issues which are covered under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and any other laws made by States which are related to protection of trees, forests, etc.

A National Green tribunal order can be reviewed as per Rule 22 of the National Green Tribunal Rules. An order of the tribunal can also be challenged within ninety days of the same before the Supreme Court, if the review petition before Tribunal fails.<ref name="ng9">{{cite news |title=National Green Tribunal (NGT) |url=https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/national-green-tribunal-ngt-1441620645-1 |access-date=5 April 2022 |publisher=Jagranjosh.com |date=7 September 2015}}</ref>

== Places ==

The principal National Green Tribunal bench is located in Delhi, with other benches sitting in Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai.<ref name="ng7">{{cite news |last1=Shekhar |first1=Laasya |title=National Green Tribunal gets second bench in South |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/100916/national-green-tribunal-gets-second-bench-in-south.html |access-date=5 April 2022 |publisher=Deccan Chronicle |date=10 September 2016 |language=en}}</ref>

== Governing principles ==

The National Green Tribunal is governed by the principles of [[natural justice]] rather than strict procedure that is normally applied by the [[Code of Civil Procedure (India)|Code of Civil Procedure]]. Likewise, the tribunal is not bound by [[Indian Evidence Act]], which makes it easier for conservation groups to present facts and issues before the tribunal compared to other courts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Methodology of NGT |url=https://www.greentribunal.gov.in/methodology-ngt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324063928/https://greentribunal.gov.in/methodology-ngt |archive-date=2023-03-24 |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=greentribunal.gov.in}}</ref>

While passing any award/decision/order, NGT applies the [[principles of sustainable development]], the [[precautionary principle]], and the [[polluter pays principle]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Green Tribunal Green Approach |url=https://www.cseindia.org/green-tribunal-green-approach-8500 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605105200/https://www.cseindia.org/green-tribunal-green-approach-8500 |archive-date=2023-06-05 |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=www.cseindia.org |language=en}}</ref>

However, the tribunal may impose costs for lost benefits due to any interim injunction, if it discovers a false claim.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Everything you need to know about the National Green Tribunal (NGT) |url=https://www.conservationindia.org/resources/ngt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231122095939/https://www.conservationindia.org/resources/ngt |archive-date=2023-11-22 |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=Conservation India |language=en-US |quote=However, it must be noted that if the NGT holds that a claim is false, it can impose costs including lost benefits due to any interim injunction.}}</ref>

== Challenges ==

The tribunal faces the challenges of understaffing.<ref name="ng8">{{cite news |title=NGT working with just 6 members instead of at least 21, zonal benches vacant for 2 yrs now |url=https://theprint.in/environment/ngt-working-with-6-members-instead-of-at-least-21-zonal-benches-vacant-for-2-yrs-now/314616/ |access-date=5 April 2022 |publisher=ThePrint |date=4 November 2019}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Tribunals in India]].

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.greentribunal.gov.in/ Official Website]


[[Category:Indian tribunals]]
[[Category:Environmental courts and tribunals]]

National Green Tribunal - Revision history

Miquel41G60448 at 10:52, 13 March 2026