New Delhi, 19th October, 2010
The Chairman of the National Green Tribunal, Shri. Justice LS Panta, along with the Minister for Environment and Forests, Mr. Jairam Ramesh held a press conference today to announce the Notification of the NGT. This occasion marks the culmination of a long endeavour to have a specialised body to determine and adjudicate all matters relating to the Environment. The Body, now officially established, will subsume such existing quasi-judicial bodies as the National Environment Appellate Authority and will enjoy original jurisdiction in cases of substantial questions related to the environment
Press Note:
The National Green Tribunal has officially been notified by the Chairperson of theTribunal, Justice Lokeshwar Singh Panta.Justice Panta, who took charge of his office on October 18th, 2010, served as a justiceof the Supreme Court of India from February 3rd 2006 to April 22nd 2009 and hashad an illustrious record of practice spanning almost four decades specialising inConstitutional Law, Administrative Law, Civil & Labor Law, Criminal Law andTaxation matters.The National Green Tribunal marks the first time a tribunal exclusively dedicated toenvironmental issues has been set up. This Body, established by an Act of Parliament(being the National Green Tribunal Act of 2010) will have circuit benches across thecountry to try all matters related to and arising out of environmental issues.The Tribunal which shall also consist of members who are experts in the field ofenvironmental and related sciences, has been empowered to issue directions for thecompensation and restitution of damage caused from actions of environmentalnegligence. In doing so, this is the first body of its kind that is required by its parentstatute, to apply the polluter pays principle and the principle of sustainabledevelopment.The Ministry of Environment and Forests also intends to organise workshops in ruralareas to educate people about issues of access and procedure related to the NGT inthe coming weeks.