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{{short description|Act of the Parliament of India}}
{{use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{use Indian English|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox legislation
| short_title =
| legislature = [[Parliament of India]]
| long_title = An Act to provide for the establishment of a National Green Tribunal for the effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment and giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
| citation = [https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/2025/1/AA2010__19green.pdf Act No. 19 of 2010]
| territorial_extent =
| enacted_by = [[Lok Sabha]]
| date_passed = 30 April 2010
| enacted_by2 = [[Rajya Sabha]]
| date_passed2 = 5 May 2010
| assented_by = [[President of India|President]] [[Pratibha Patil]]
| date_assented = 18 October 2010
| date_commenced =
| bill_history_url = https://prsindia.org/billtrack/the-national-green-tribunal-bill-2009
| bill = National Green Tribunal Bill, 2009
| bill_citation = [https://prsindia.org/files/bills_acts/bills_parliament/2009/Green_Tribunal_Bill_2009.pdf Bill No. 63 of 2009]
| bill_date = 31 July 2009<ref name="NGT Bill, 2009">{{cite web|title=NGT Bill, 2009|url=http://www.prsindia.org/billtrack/the-national-green-tribunal-bill-2009-740/|access-date=22 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130918180127/http://www.prsindia.org/billtrack/the-national-green-tribunal-bill-2009-740/|archive-date=18 September 2013}}</ref>
| introduced_by = [[Jairam Ramesh]], [[Minister of State|MoS]] for [[Ministry of Environment and Forests (India)|Environment and Forests]]
| 1st_reading =
| 2nd_reading =
| 3rd_reading =
| passed = 30 April 2010
| committee_report = 24 November 2009<ref name="NGT Bill, 2009"/>
| passed2 = 5 May 2010
| repeals = National Environment Tribunal Act, 1995 (27 of 1995)
| summary =
| keywords =
| status = in force
}}

{{Environmental law}}

The '''National Green Tribunal Act, 2010'''<ref>[http://www.greentribunal.gov.in/acts.php National Green Tribunal Website]</ref> is an Act of the [[Parliament of India]] which enables the creation of a special tribunal for the expeditious disposal of the cases pertaining to [[environmental issues]].<ref>[http://moef.nic.in/rules-regulations/national-green-tribunal-ngt Ministry of Environment and Forest Website]</ref> It draws inspiration from Article 21 of India's constitution, on the protection of life and personal liberty, which assures the citizens of India the [[right to a healthy environment]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/ngt-directs-dpcc-to-submit-action-taken-against-defaulting-industries-in-narela-bawana-119052800844_1.html|title=NGT directs DPCC to submit action taken against defaulting industries in Narela, Bawana|newspaper=Business Standard India|date=28 May 2019|language=en|access-date=2019-08-01|agency=Press Trust of India}}</ref> This Act serves as the basis for the establishment of the [[National Green Tribunal (NGT)]].

== Definition ==
The Act of Parliament defines the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 as follows:

<blockquote>
An Act to provide for the establishment of a National Green Tribunal for the effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to [[environmental protection]] and [[forest conservation|conservation of forests]] and other natural resources including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment and giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/NGT-fin.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=22 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810151851/http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/NGT-fin.pdf |archive-date=10 August 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref></blockquote>

The Tribunal's dedicated jurisdiction in environmental matters shall provide speedy [[environmental justice]] and help reduce the burden of litigation in the higher courts. The [[Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007|Tribunal]] shall not be bound by the procedure laid down under the [[Code of Civil Procedure (India)|Code of Civil Procedure]], 1908, but shall be guided by principles of natural justice. The tribunal is mandated to make and endeavour for disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of the filing of the same. Initially, the NGT is proposed to be set up at five places of sittings and will follow circuit procedure for making itself more accessible; New Delhi is the Principal Place of Sitting of the Tribunal and Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai shall be the other place of sitting of the Tribunal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://moef.nic.in/rules-regulations/national-green-tribunal-ngt |title=National Green Tribunal (NGT) {{!}} Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India |website=moef.nic.in |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130701020333/http://moef.nic.in/rules-regulations/national-green-tribunal-ngt |archive-date=2013-07-01}} </ref>

== Origin ==
During the summit of [[United Nations Conference on Environment and Development]] in June 1992, India vowed the participating states to provide judicial and administrative remedies to the victims of the pollutants and other environmental damage.

There lie many reasons behind the setting up of this tribunal. After India's move with [[carbon credits]], such tribunal may play a vital role in ensuring the control of emissions and maintaining the desired levels. This is the first body of its kind that is required by its parent statute to apply the [[polluter pays principle]] and the principle of [[sustainable development]].

India is the third country following Australia and New Zealand to have such a system.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wwfindia.org/about_wwf/enablers/cel/national_green_tribunal/|title = Green Tribunal}}</ref>
Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) works under the act of (NGT).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/ngt-seeks-report-from-dpcc-on-pollution/article27528144.ece|title=NGT seeks report from DPCC on pollution|author=Staff Reporter|date=2019-06-06|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-08-05|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/ngt-raps-dpcc-over-failure-to-curb-air-pollution-in-the-capital/article26775663.ece|title=NGT raps DPCC over failure to curb air pollution in the Capital|author=Staff Reporter|date=2019-04-09|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-08-05|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Structure ==
The five regional benches are at [[New Delhi]] (North), [[Mumbai]] (West), [[Bhopal]] (Central), [[Chennai]] (South) and [[Kolkata]] (East). Each Bench has a specified geographical jurisdiction in a region. Further, a mechanism for circuit benches is also available. For example, the Southern Zone bench, which is based in Chennai, can decide to have sittings in other places like Bangalore or Hyderabad.

The Chairperson of the NGT is a retired Judge of the Supreme Court, headquartered in New Delhi. On 18 October 2010, Justice [[Lokeshwar Singh Panta]]<ref>[http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/bio/127_lspanta.htm Justice Lokeshwar Singh Panta]</ref> became its first Chairman and currently [[Prakash Shrivastava|Justice Prakash Shrivastava]] has been appointed as Chairperson of [[National Green Tribunal|National Green Tribunal (NGT)]] on 21 August 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 December 2023 |title=Appointment of Chairperson of National Green Tribunal |url=https://greentribunal.gov.in/honble-mr-justice-prakash-shrivastava |archive-date= |access-date=}}</ref> Retired justice Adarsh Kumar Goel is the former chairman of the tribunal from 6 July 2018 to 6 July 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Former chairman of the tribunal |url=https://greentribunal.gov.in/honble-mr-justice-adarsh-kumar-goel |archive-date= |access-date=11 December 2023}}</ref> Also, on 15 January 2022, [[Afroz Ahmad]] took charge as a Member at the Principal bench Delhi. Other Judicial members are retired judges of High Courts. Each bench of the NGT will comprise at least one Judicial Member and one Expert Member. Expert members should have a professional qualification and a minimum of 15 years of experience in the field of environment/forest conservation and related subjects. The members are not re-elected.

== Former chairpersons ==
Following is the list of the former NGT chairpersons<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 December 2023 |title=Former Chairperson |url=https://www.greentribunal.gov.in/former-chairperson}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Sr No
!Name
!From
!To
|-
|1
|[[Lokeshwar Singh Panta]]
|18 October 2010
|31 December 2011
|-
|2
|[[Swatanter Kumar]]
|20 December 2012
|19 December 2017
|-
|3
|[[Adarsh Kumar Goel]]
|6 July 2018
|6 July 2023
|-
|4
|[[Prakash Shrivastava]]
|2023
|
|}
==See also==
*[[Central Pollution Control Board]]
*[[Environmental issues in India]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* {{cite web|url=http://envfor.nic.in/legis/others/envapp97.html|title=THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT APPELLATE AUTHORITY ACT, 1997 / ACT NO. 22 OF 1997|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420115402/http://envfor.nic.in/legis/others/envapp97.html|archive-date=20 April 2018}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.envfor.nic.in/legis/env/env1.html|title=THE ENVIRONMENT (PROTECTION) ACT, 1986 / No. 29 OF 1986|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190305044031/http://www.envfor.nic.in/legis/env/env1.html|archive-date=5 March 2019}}
* {{cite web | title=National Green Tribunal | website=National Green Tribunal | url=http://www.greentribunal.gov.in/ | ref={{sfnref | National Green Tribunal}} | access-date=2021-11-26}}

{{Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (India)}}
{{Industrial Ecology}}
{{Quasi-judicial bodies of India}}
{{Public Services of India}}
{{Civil service}}

[[Category:Indian tribunals]]
[[Category:India and the United Nations]]
[[Category:Environmental law in India]]
[[Category:2010 in the environment]]
[[Category:Acts of the Parliament of India 2010]]
[[Category:Manmohan Singh administration]]
[[Category:Right to a healthy environment]]

National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 - Revision history

Umaiordarame at 15:16, 2 May 2026