Examine the role of the National Green Tribunal in providing speedy justice in environmental matters by…

Question

Examine the role of the National Green Tribunal in providing speedy justice in environmental matters by quoting its recent decisions.

Ghissu Editorial · Accepted Answer

The National Green Tribunal, set up under the NGT Act, 2010, speeds environmental justice through expert members, a six-month disposal mandate, suo motu powers and simplified procedure, enforcing the Article 21 right to a clean environment. Orders such as its ₹25 crore penalty on Vedanta's refinery show its reach.

**Introduction**

The National Green Tribunal (NGT), established in 2010, ensures expeditious environmental justice, reducing the burden on traditional courts and safeguarding public health, especially in states like ==Andhra Pradesh== with its sensitive ecological zones and industrial growth.

**Role and Functions of the National Green Tribunal**

SKETCH: mindmap | Speedy Justice Mechanisms of NGT
- Mandated 6-month disposal
- Suo motu powers
- Simplified procedures
- Expert-assisted evidence gathering

1. **Specialized Environmental Adjudication**: Constituted under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, the NGT handles cases related to environmental protection, forest conservation, and natural resource management. It comprises judicial members and experts, balancing legal and scientific perspectives to address complex environmental issues effectively.  
2. **Enforcement and Compensation Powers**: The NGT can impose fines, order compensation, and mandate restoration. Notably, it imposed a ₹25 crore penalty on Vedanta’s alumina refinery for environmental damage and ordered compensatory afforestation in Uttarakhand, demonstrating its commitment to the polluter pays principle and ecological restoration.

**Mechanisms Ensuring Speedy Justice**

4. **Simplified Procedures and Challenges in Capacity**: Freed from strict civil procedural rules, the NGT follows principles of natural justice, facilitating faster hearings. However, as of 2020, it operated with fewer than the mandated 10 judicial and 10 expert members, causing pendency and delays that hamper its efficiency.

**Recent Decisions Illustrating the NGT’s Role**

5. **Pollution Control and Restoration**: The tribunal has taken a firm stance against illegal sand mining and industrial pollution in ==Visakhapatnam==’s coastal areas, ensuring stricter compliance with environmental norms. Its afforestation directives, such as ordering the Border Roads Organisation to plant 10,000 trees, further highlight its role in ecological balance and sustainable development.

**Conclusion**

The NGT’s specialized mandate, expert composition, and procedural flexibility make it pivotal in delivering speedy and effective environmental justice in India, despite challenges in capacity and resource constraints.

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