Consider Having National Green Tribunal (NGT) Benches In Every State: Supreme Court (SC) To Centre.

Why in news?

• SC was hearing a petition challenging various provisions of the NGT Act, 2010 including:
  • Power vested in the Centre to establish specific benches of tribunals and
  • SC as the only appellate forum against the order of the NGT
• The SC emphasised that the principle of access to justice coupled with the idea of protecting the environment should guide the Centre in considering more zonal benches.
  • At present the NGT has a presence in five zones- North, Central, East, South and West.
  • The Principal Bench is situated in the North Zone, headquartered in Delhi.
• Benefits of zonal benches
  • It will lighten the burden of the existing benches.
  • More people will be induced to take up the causes of protecting the environment.
  • This will bring environmental justice to the doorstep of the citizens.

About National Green Tribunal

• NGT is a statutory and quasi-judicial body established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection.
• It is not bound by the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 or Indian Evidence Act, 1872 but is guided by principles of natural justice.
• Jurisdiction of NGT: civil cases under the seven laws related to the environment
  • 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