NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL

Abstract

National Green Tribunal has formed by the Government of India during the year 2010. It is a ‘Quasi- judicial’ body which deals with the environment related civil litigations. National Environment Tribunal Act 1955 (META) and National Environment Appellate Authority Act, 1997 (NEAA) were two previous efforts to establish Green Court in India, it has evolved before National Green Tribunal. The most effective environment court in the form of National Green Tribunal which has come into existence in year 2010. This research paper also deals with many limitations in National Green Tribunal Act and its procedure, it can be viewed as a positive step towards the environmental justice of India. National Green Tribunal which was established in 2010 under article 21 of Indian Constitution, guarantees the citizen of India for the right to healthy environment. India is the third country following Australia and New Zealand to have such tribunal. The researcher also focused on that the higher judiciary which is loaded with excessive weight with a large backlog of cases in India. It may be appreciated that in order to have effective protection of environmental pollution and environmental complaints should be decided in an effective manner that is not possible in the present context of judicial administration. That’s why there was an urgent need felt for an alternative forum, so that environmental cases were resolved without much delay. Basically, National Green Tribunal has been enacted to fulfil the long felt need of alternative forum to deliver speedy and inexpensive justice. The philosophy of Public Interest Litigation which is welcome direction for the class of victims who are unable to knock the doors of judiciary.