NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL (NGT) - POLITY

News: Goa’s Curlies, beach shack that faced controversy over death of BJP leader Sonali Phogat, fails to get NGT relief

 

What's in the news?

       The National Green Tribunal (NGT) dismissed an appeal filed by the owner of Curlies restaurant, a popular beachfront shack in Goa, challenging a 2016 order of the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) to demolish its illegal structures for alleged violation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms.

 

National Green Tribunal:

       It is a specialised body set up under the National Green Tribunal Act (2010) for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.

 

Benches:

       New Delhi is the Principal Place of Sitting of the Tribunal and Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai shall be the other four places of sitting of the Tribunal.

 

Time Period for Case Disposal:

       NGT is mandated to make disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of the filing of the same.

 

Governance:

Composition:

       The Tribunal comprises the Chairperson, the Judicial Members and Expert Members.

       The Chairperson is appointed by the Central Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI).

       A Selection Committee shall be formed by the central government to appoint the Judicial Members and Expert Members.

       There are to be at least 10 and maximum 20 full time Judicial members and Expert Members in the tribunal.

 

Tenure:

       They shall hold office for a term of three years or till the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier and are not eligible for reappointment.

 

 

 

Powers and jurisdiction:

       Established for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.

       It has appellate jurisdiction to hear appeals as a Court.

       The Tribunal is not bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but shall be guided by principles of natural justice.

 

Acts under Jurisdiction of the NGT:

       Biodiversity Act, 2002

       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

 

Acts not under the Jurisdiction of the NGT:

       Wildlife protection Act, 1972

       Forest rights Act, 2006