National Green Tribunal (NGT) - UPSC Notes
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
Candidates preparing for UPSC 2024 can also download the notes PDF at the end of this article.
National Green Tribunal (NGT) (UPSC Notes):- Download PDF Here
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.
Complement your preparation with the help of the given links:
- Latest Current Affairs
- UPSC Mains General Studies Paper-II Strategy, Syllabus & Structure
- Topic-Wise General Studies Paper – 3 Questions for UPSC Mains
- Previous Years Environment & Ecology Questions in UPSC Mains General Studies Paper-III
- Previous Years Governance Questions in UPSC Mains General Studies Paper – 2
- 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):- Download PDF Here
Frequently Asked Questions related to National Green Tribunal
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
