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In the aftermath of various environmental disasters and cases, there was a need to step up a
mechanism for Environmental Justice. The Bhopal gas disaster in 1984, had led the Supreme
Court to emphasize on the need for constitution of environmental courts. In Charan Lal Sahu
v. Union of India1 the court opined that under the existing civil law damages are determined
by the civil Courts, after a long drawn litigation, which destroys the very purpose of awarding
damages so in order to meet the situation, to avoid delay and to ensure immediate relief to the
victims, the law should provide for constitution of tribunals regulated by special procedure
for determining compensation to victims of industrial disaster or accident, appeal against
which may lie to this Court on the limited ground of questions of law only after depositing
the amount determined by the Tribunal. The Supreme Court of India at various instances
also has opined that as environment cases involve assessment of scientific data it would be
desirable to have the setting up of environmental courts on a regional basis with a
professional judge and two experts keeping in view the expertise required for such
adjudication.2 Again in the judgment of Indian Council for Enviro- Legal Action v. Union of
India3, the Supreme Court observed that Environmental Courts having civil and criminal
jurisdiction must be established to deal with the environmental issues in a speedy manner.
The Parliament of India enacted two specific laws- the National Environment Tribunal Act,
1995 for adjudicating on claims and compensation for victims of environmental disasters and
the National Environment Appellate Authority Act, 1997. The National Environment Tribunal
never came into functioning while the National Environment Appellate Authority (herein
referred as NEAA) functioned with full composition only for 3 years4. The NEAA had a very
limited mandate and served as an appellate body against the decision of the Ministry of
Environment and Forest granting environment clearance to a project. These two tribunals
were nonfunctional and existed only on paper. This issue was also considered by the Law
1 AIR 1990 SC 1480
2 M.C. Mehta v. Union of India, AIR 1987 SC 965-967; Indian Council for Enviro Legal
Action v. Union of India, 1996 (3) SCC 212; AP Pollution Control Board v. M V Nayudu,
1999 (2) SCC 718; A P Pollution Control Board v. M V Nayudu II, 2001 (2) SCC 62
OBJECTIVE
The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 is an Act passed by the Indian Parliament for
the establishment of National Green Tribunal (NGT) for the effective and expeditious
disposal of cases that relate to environmental protection and conservation of forests and
other natural resources.9 It aims at the enforcement of any legal right relating to
environment and granting relief and compensation for damages to persons or property
and other matters connected to the safety and preservation of the environment. 10 The
tribunal repeals and replaces the earlier National Environment Tribunal Act, 1995 and
8 [2001] 2 SCC 62
9 http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/node/296384
This act was enacted as a result of the application of Article 21 of the Constitution of
India.11 The idea of a dignified life and not mere animal existence was celebrated in the
landmark case of Francis Corallie v Union of India,12 following which cropped up much case
law that extended the ambit of Article 21. And a pleasant consequence was the many
acclaimed environmental cases that highlighted the need for the preservation of the
environment to also be a right under Article 21. Thereby Article 21 also assures the citizens of
India the right to a healthy environment. The tribunal so established by the Parliament
through the usage of Article 21 is a special fast- track court to handle the expeditious disposal
of other cases pertaining to environmental issues. On 18 October 2010, Justice Lokesh Singh
Panta, became its first Chairman. Currently, the chair is presided over by Justice Sawanter
Kumar since 20 December 2012. The Act is also an endeavor of the Parliament under Article
253 of the Constitution read with Entry 14 of List I of Schedule VII to fulfill the obligation of
India towards Stockholm Declaration, 197213 in which India participated, calling upon the
States to take appropriate steps for the protection and improvement of the human
environment and Rio Declaration, 199216in which India participated, calling upon the States
to provide effective access to judicial and administrative proceedings, including redress and
remedy and to develop national laws regarding liability and compensation for the victims of
pollution and other environmental damage.
The Act empowers the Central Government to establish, by notification with effect from such
date as may be specified therein, the Green Tribunal to exercise jurisdiction, powers and
Power is given to the Central Government under Section 34 to either to add a new Act to or
delete any Act from, this by notification amending the same. The Act doesnt provide
jurisdiction to Tribunal over all laws related to environment such as Wildlife Protection Act
(1972), Indian Forest Act 1927, Scheduled Tribes (Recognition of Forest Rights Act) 2005
and various other state legislations. It has been criticized that the Tribunal doesnt have
any Suo motto power to initiate a proceedings against anyone even if matters of national
interest.
The Tribunal is not bound by the procedure laid under the Code of Civil Procedure,
1908, but would be guided by the principles of natural justice 22 and sustainable
development. However, the Tribunal will have all the powers of a civil court 23 under the
Civil Procedure Code, 1973. Also, it is to be noted that civil court shall not entertain
cases which the Tribunal is competent to hear.24 It is a tribunal and hence a quasi-
21 Ibid, Section 16
The compliant so filed before the tribunal must be disposed within six months. Further, it can
only deal with civil cases and it excluded criminal offences. The NGT has the power
compensation to the victims of environmental degradation or damage and there is no limit for
the compensation so granted. This compensation or relief so ordered to be paid by the
tribunal is to be credited to the Environmental Relief Fund 2008 established under the
Public Liability Insurance Act 1991. As for a person who fails to comply with the order
so passed by the tribunal shall be punishable with imprisonment, which may extend to 3
years or with a fine, which may extend to Rs. 10 crores. If the concerned person is a
company, the penalty may extend to Rs. 25 crores. A further appeal lies from these
tribunals to Supreme Court if a person feels he has been aggrieved by any of the
decision of the NGT.28
The application of for adjudication of the dispute is made within a period of six months from
the date on which the cause of action for such dispute first arose. However, the Tribunal may,
if it is satisfied that the applicant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the application
27 Rio Declaration, supra note 19, Principle 15 and 16; Agenda 21, June 14 1992, UN Doc
A/Conf.151/26 (1992).
28 Section 22, National Green Tribunal Act, 2010; Act: National Environment Appellate Authority act,
1997 , http://envfor.nic.in/legis/others/envapp97.html ;Act: Environment (Protection) Act, 1986,
http://www.envfor.nic.in/legis/env/env1.html
within the said period, allow it to be filed within a further period not exceeding sixty days. 29
Under the Act, the Proceedings before the Tribunal shall be deemed to be judicial
proceedings.30 While the Act envisages the conferment of wide jurisdiction on the Green
Tribunal, it also, at the same time, seeks to restrict the scope of its jurisdiction only to matters
involving substantial, questions, relating environment. The term substantial question relating
to environment is defined under the act31 shall include an instance where:-
a. the community at large other than an individual or group of individuals is affected or likely
to be affected by the environmental consequences; or
One criticism that has cropped up in relation to the NGT Act is that while the right to Article
21 of the constitution is a fundamental right guaranteed to individuals, the Act seeks to deny
to the same individuals and groups of individuals the right to question any environmental
consequence that affects them unless it also affects the community at large or public health. It
means NGT Jurisdiction is confined to where community at large is affected by specific form
of activity such as pollution excluding individual or Group of individuals who deserves as
much protection as to Community at Large. However, individuals can approach the court
when the damage to the environment or property is substantial. It is submitted that the
definition of the expression substantial question relating to environment as given in the Act
which provides for statutory exclusion of individuals may not stand judicial scrutiny, for, the
right to healthy environment, in its wide amplitude, subsumes all aspects of environmental
JUDICIAL REMEDY
The Act envisages various reliefs. It says that the Tribunal may, by an order, provide relief
and compensation to the victims of pollution and other environmental damage arising under
the enactments specified in the Schedule-I to the Act, including accident occurring while
handling any hazardous substance. It may also order the restitution of the property damaged
and the restitution of the environment for that areas as the Tribunal may think fit. 34 The relief
under this Act is an addition to the relief given under the Public Liability Insurance Act,
1991.35 The Act seeks to discourage delayed applications for relief. If stipulates that no
application for the above mentioned categories of relief would be entertained by the Tribunal
unless it is made within a period of five years from the date on which the cause for such relief
first arose. However, the Tribunal may allow further sixty days for the application to be filed
if it is satisfied that the applicant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing such
application.36 The Act obligates the claimants under the Act to intimate to the Tribunal about
the application filed to, or as the case may be, compensation or relief received from, any
other court or authority.37 The Act provides for an expeditious relief and obligates the
Tribunal to endeavor to dispose of the application or, the case may be, an appeal finally
33 The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010: An Overview, Aruna B Venkat, Associate
Professor of Law, NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad
The Act provides that an application for grant of relief or compensation or settlement of
dispute may be made to the Tribunal by (a) any person who has sustained the injury; or (b)
the owner of the property to which the damage has been caused or (c) all or any of the legal
representatives of the deceased where death has resulted from the environmental damage or
(d) any agent duly authorized by such person or owner of such property or all or any of the
legal representatives of the deceased, as the case may be; or (e) any person aggrieved ;
including any representative body or organization. In addition, the Central Government or a
State Government, or a Union Territory administration or the Central Pollution Control Board
or a State Pollution Control Board or a Pollution Control Committee or a local Authority or
any environmental authority constituted or established under the Environment (Protection)
Act, 1986 or any other law for the time in force, can also move the Tribunal.39
PENALTY
This Act bestows ample power on the Green Tribunal if its orders are not complied with; to
impose penalty which may be either three years prison or up to ten crores and for companies
it may extend up to twenty five crores. 40 The act adopts a tough posture against companies. 41
If it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is
attributable to any neglect on the part of any director, manager, secretary or other officer of
the company, such director, manager, secretary or other officers shall also be deemed to be
guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
This is a commendable inclusion in the bill and at least it will instill sense of fear among
higher officials of company to pay due attention to environmental performance of their
company. But the accused can take defense that he did not have the knowledge or he has
39 Section 18(2)
40 Section 26(1)
41 Section 27
taken all the due care to prevent the commission of the offence. 42 Hence, this strong inclusion
is diluted.
INSTANCES
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently criticized the two-stage forest clearance granted
by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to the proposed steel plant of
South Korean steel giant, POSCO, in Odisha. The present NGT Chairperson Justice
Swatanter Kumar observed that The Forest (Conservation) Act does not have any provision
on two-stageforest clearance. It will have a far-reaching effect. The initial environment
clearance to the plant was granted in 2007 by MoEF. Following allegations that the ministry
had not adhered to Forest Rights Act, MoEF set up the N C Saxena committee in July 2010 to
review the clearance. Despite the committees report indicating that provisions of the Forest
Rights Act had been violated, MoEF issued final order on January 31, 2011 and gave
environment clearance to POSCO. The present appeal against MoEFs clearance to the steel
project was filed before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Act of 2010 and challenges the
final order of the MoEF, which imposes additional conditions to the original environmental
clearance granted in respect of steel-cum-captive power plant project
On sand mining
Reaffirming February 27, 2012, Supreme Courts order43 banning any kind of mining of
minor minerals, including sand, without environmental clearance from the Union Ministry of
Environment and Forests, the NGT on 5 August 2013 issued a restraint order against all sand
mining activity being carried out across the country without environmental clearance. The
bench comprising justices Swatenter Kumar, U D Salvi, S N Hussain, and experts, D K
Agarwal and Ranjan Chatterjee said that removal of minerals from river beds is posing a
serious threat to the flow of rivers, survival of forests upon river banks and most seriously to
the environment of river banks, especially those of the Yamuna, Ganga, Chambal, Gaumti
and Revati rivers. The NGT bench also observed that majority of persons carrying out
mining activity of removing mineral from the river bed have no license to extract sand; they
42 Proviso to Section 27
43 "MoEF's clearance must for mining minor minerals, too: Supreme Court". Down to Earth.
Mar 7, 2012. Retrieved 05 August , 2013.
also have not obtained clearance from Ministry of Environment and Forests or the State
Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) at any stage in terms of the Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986 (EP Act, 1986) as well as Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
Act, 1981 and Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) act, 1974.44 While the bench
initially restrained illegal sand mining on the beds and banks of rivers Yamuna, Ganga,
Hindon, Chambal, Gomti, amongst others, but later modified its order saying the issue of
illegally removing sand has nationwide implications.45 On August 14, 2013, The National
Green Tribunal (NGT) decided to set up an expert committee on illegal sand mining to carry
out any orders that it may pass in future and to prepare a comprehensive report on the issue.
The committee will also carry out a comprehensive zoning and mapping to delineate areas
where mining could be permitted and to what extent. The tribunal specifically banned beach
sand mining in the coastal States citing specific instances of State of Tamil Nadu - where
2,30,000 tonnes beach sand mineral has been quarried in Vaippar village without permission
of any Government Authority and State of Kerala.46
The Act is considered a critical step in capacity development because the Act strengthens the
framework of global environmental governance. The judiciary has been the backbone for
developing a large body of environmental jurisprudence, even though policy enforcement has
been weak. A National Environment Protection Authority is also to be established shortly to
monitor the implementation of environment laws.
Coming to dark side of the Act, the rules relating to constitution and composition of selection
committee tilts the balance of power in favor of Central Government. Keeping in view the
repeal of the National Environment Tribunal Act, 1995 and the National Environment
Appellate Authority Act, 1997 by the present Act47, it is submitted that legislation should
become operational in letter and spirit to provide much needed relief against
44 "No sand mining without environment clearance: NGT".Down to Earth. Aug 5, 2013.
Retrieved 05 August , 2013.
45 "NGT Restrains Sand Mining Across The Country".Tehelka. Aug 5, 2013. Retrieved 05
August , 2013.
46 "Green Tribunal bans beach sand mining". The Hindu. August 14, 2013. Retrieved 15
August 2013.
offences/complaints for degradation of environment. It is further suggested that in order to
achieve more fruitful result the environment court should be established in each state
however, in case of smaller States and Union Territories, one court for more than one State or
Union Territory may serve the purpose.
It is not uncommon for a statute to take a few years before it grows into a strong and
extensive statute. It is only through interpretations and implementation over the years that the
strength and shortcomings become clear. The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 is in a
nascent stage now and it is only with time that its practicality and efficiency will be exposed.