NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL LAUNCHED

The National Green Tribunal has officially been notified by the Chairperson of the
Tribunal, Justice Lokeshwar Singh Panta.

Justice Panta, who took charge of his office on October 18th, 2010, served as a justice of the Supreme Court of India from February 3rd 2006 to April 22nd 2009 and has had an illustrious record of practice spanning almost four decades specialising in Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Civil & Labor Law, Criminal Law and
Taxation matters.

The National Green Tribunal marks the first time a tribunal exclusively dedicated to
environmental 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 the
country 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 of
environmental and related sciences, has been empowered to issue directions for the
compensation and restitution of damage caused from actions of environmental
negligence. In doing so, this is the first body of its kind that is required by its parent statute, to apply the polluter pays principle and the principle of sustainable
development.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests also intends to organise workshops in rural
areas to educate people about issues of access and procedure related to the NGT in
the coming weeks.