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Assessing Environmental Jurisprudence in India: An Analysis of the National Green Tribunal's Judicial Structure and Institutional Effectiveness

Received: 7 July 2023    Accepted: 25 July 2023    Published: 28 October 2023
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Abstract

This article assesses the judicial structure of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), specifically focusing on the western bench, and its role in providing access to environmental justice in India. It highlights the loopholes and deficiencies in the functioning of the NGT, which hinder its effectiveness in addressing environmental problems. The analysis of recent environmental cases demonstrates contradictions and gaps in the institutional mechanisms, resulting in ineffective implementation of legislation. The lack of clarity in calculating compensation values, selective action against violators, and inadequate penalties are some of the issues identified. The article also points out the absence of a centralized monitoring mechanism for NGT orders and the inefficient utilization of collected fines. To improve the NGT's effectiveness, several recommendations are proposed. These include strengthening infrastructure, ensuring timely appointments of qualified personnel, providing specialized training, promoting collaboration and coordination among stakeholders, raising public awareness and participation, implementing effective case management practices, encouraging alternative dispute resolution, strengthening enforcement, fostering research and expertise, and advocating for legislative reforms. By addressing these recommendations, the NGT can enhance its capacity to handle environmental cases, expedite the resolution process, and uphold the principles of sustainable development, precautionality, and the Polluter Pays Principle. Collaboration and open dialogue among authorities, along with constructive approaches, are emphasized as crucial for addressing environmental challenges effectively.

Published in International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy (Volume 11, Issue 5)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijepp.20231105.12
Page(s) 86-91
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

National Green Tribunal, Environmental Justice, Institutional Structure, Access to Justice, Compensation, Monitoring, Environmental Law

References
[1] Gill, G. (2016). Environmental Justice in India: The National Green Tribunal and Expert Members. Transnational Environmental Law, 5 (1), 175-205. doi: 10.1017/S2047102515000278, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/transnational-environmental-law/article/environmental-justice-in-india-the-national-green-tribunal-and-expert-members/2E26B50742FFB8BB743557132DC7DD66, last seen on 9/7/2023
[2] Gill, Gitanjali Nain, Access to Environmental Justice in India with special reference to National Green Tribunal: A Step in the right direction, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/transnational-environmental-law/article/environmental-justice-in-india-the-national-green-tribunal-and-expert-members/2E26B50742FFB8BB743557132DC7DD66, last seen on 9/7/2023
[3] GILL, G. (2020). Mapping the Power Struggles of the National Green Tribunal of India: The Rise and Fall? Asian Journal of Law and Society, 7 (1), 85-126. doi: 10.1017/als.2018.28, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/asian-journal-of-law-and-society/article/mapping-the-power-struggles-of-the-national-green-tribunal-of-india-the-rise-and-fall/CB60FE6258D273938062A5898BD997B7, last seen on 9/7/2023
[4] Environmental Courts and tribunals: A Guide for Policy Makers, UNEP, available at https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/10001/environmental-courts-tribunals.pdf, last seen on 9/7/2023
[5] Asian Development Bank. “Environmental Governance and the Courts in Asia” (June 2012), available at http://www.adb.org/publications/environmental-governance-and-courts-asiaasian-judges-network-environment, last seen on 9/7/2023
[6] Gill, Gitanjali Nain. Environmental Justice in India: The National Green Tribunal (Routledge, forthcoming 2016), available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/transnational-environmental-law/article/abs/environmental-justice-in-india-the-national-green-tribunal-by-gitanjali-nain-gill-routledge-2017-238-pp-110-hb-isbn-9781138921108/53361360D1B467E8962B5FB3779914F6, last seen on 9/7/2023
[7] Hassan, Dr. Parvez. “Good Environmental Governance: Some Trends in the South Asian Region,” presentation at the 3rd UNITAR-Yale Conference on Environmental Governance and Democracy (Sept. 5-7, 2014), available at http://conference.unitar.org/yale2014/session-1-taking-stock-state-art-knowledge-human-rights-environment-interface, last seen on 9/7/2023
[8] UNEP. Enforcement of Environmental Law: Good Practices from Africa, Central Asia, ASEAN Countries and China (2015), available at https://www.unep.org/resources/report/enforcement-environmental-law-good-practices-africa-central-asia-asean-countries, last seen on 9/7/2023
[9] UNEP. “Guidelines for the Development of National Legislation on Access to Information, Public Participation and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters” [UNEP Bali Guidelines] (Feb. 26, 2010), https://www.unep.org/resources/publication/guidelines-development-national-legislation-access-information-public, last seen on 9/7/2023
[10] The National Green Tribunal Act of 2010, available at https://greentribunal.gov.in/sites/default/files/act_rules/National_Green_Tribunal_Act,_2010.pdf, Last seen on 9/7/2023
[11] National Green Tribunal (Recruitment, salaris, and other terms and conditions of service of officers and other employees) Rules 2011, available at https://greentribunal.in/downloads/458.pdf, last seen on 9/7/2023
[12] Sathe, S. P., Judicial Activism in India: Transgressing Borders and Enforcing Limits (Oxford University Press, 2002), p. 210, available at https://cir.nii.ac.jp/crid/1130000797404484608, last seen on 9/7/2023
[13] Faure, M. G. & Raja, A. V., ‘Effectiveness of Environmental Public Interest Litigation in India: Determining the Key Variable’ (2010) 21 (2) Fordham Environmental Law Review, pp. 239–294, available at https://www.jstor.org/stable/44175578, last seen on 9/7/2023
[14] Rajamani, L., ‘Public Interest Litigation in India: Exploring Issues of Access, Participation, Equity, Effectiveness and Sustainability’ (2007) 19 (3) Journal of Environmental Law, pp. 293–321, https://academic.oup.com/jel/article-abstract/19/3/293/472422, last seen on 9/7/2023
[15] Sahu, G., ‘Implications of Indian Supreme Courts Innovation for Environmental Jurisprudence’ (2008) 4 (1) Law, Environment and Development Journal, pp. 3–19, https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/leadjo4&div=4&id=&page=, last seen on 9/7/2023
[16] The enactments in Sch. I include the following: Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974; Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act 1977; Forests (Conservation) Act 1980; Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981; Environment (Protection) Act 1986; Public Liability Insurance Act 1981; and Biological Diversity Act 2002.
[17] The National Green Tribunal (Manner of Appointment of Judicial and Expert Members, Salaries, Allowances and other Terms and Conditions of Service of Chairperson and other Members and Procedure for Enquiry) Rules 2010 and 2012, available at https://greentribunal.gov.in/sites/default/files/act_rules/GSR_556E_dated_11-07-2012.pdf, last seen on 9/7/2023
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Megha Phadkay. (2023). Assessing Environmental Jurisprudence in India: An Analysis of the National Green Tribunal's Judicial Structure and Institutional Effectiveness . International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy, 11(5), 86-91. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20231105.12

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    ACS Style

    Megha Phadkay. Assessing Environmental Jurisprudence in India: An Analysis of the National Green Tribunal's Judicial Structure and Institutional Effectiveness . Int. J. Environ. Prot. Policy 2023, 11(5), 86-91. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20231105.12

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    AMA Style

    Megha Phadkay. Assessing Environmental Jurisprudence in India: An Analysis of the National Green Tribunal's Judicial Structure and Institutional Effectiveness . Int J Environ Prot Policy. 2023;11(5):86-91. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20231105.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijepp.20231105.12,
      author = {Megha Phadkay},
      title = {Assessing Environmental Jurisprudence in India: An Analysis of the National Green Tribunal's Judicial Structure and Institutional Effectiveness
    
    	
    },
      journal = {International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy},
      volume = {11},
      number = {5},
      pages = {86-91},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijepp.20231105.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20231105.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijepp.20231105.12},
      abstract = {This article assesses the judicial structure of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), specifically focusing on the western bench, and its role in providing access to environmental justice in India. It highlights the loopholes and deficiencies in the functioning of the NGT, which hinder its effectiveness in addressing environmental problems. The analysis of recent environmental cases demonstrates contradictions and gaps in the institutional mechanisms, resulting in ineffective implementation of legislation. The lack of clarity in calculating compensation values, selective action against violators, and inadequate penalties are some of the issues identified. The article also points out the absence of a centralized monitoring mechanism for NGT orders and the inefficient utilization of collected fines. To improve the NGT's effectiveness, several recommendations are proposed. These include strengthening infrastructure, ensuring timely appointments of qualified personnel, providing specialized training, promoting collaboration and coordination among stakeholders, raising public awareness and participation, implementing effective case management practices, encouraging alternative dispute resolution, strengthening enforcement, fostering research and expertise, and advocating for legislative reforms. By addressing these recommendations, the NGT can enhance its capacity to handle environmental cases, expedite the resolution process, and uphold the principles of sustainable development, precautionality, and the Polluter Pays Principle. Collaboration and open dialogue among authorities, along with constructive approaches, are emphasized as crucial for addressing environmental challenges effectively.
    },
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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    AB  - This article assesses the judicial structure of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), specifically focusing on the western bench, and its role in providing access to environmental justice in India. It highlights the loopholes and deficiencies in the functioning of the NGT, which hinder its effectiveness in addressing environmental problems. The analysis of recent environmental cases demonstrates contradictions and gaps in the institutional mechanisms, resulting in ineffective implementation of legislation. The lack of clarity in calculating compensation values, selective action against violators, and inadequate penalties are some of the issues identified. The article also points out the absence of a centralized monitoring mechanism for NGT orders and the inefficient utilization of collected fines. To improve the NGT's effectiveness, several recommendations are proposed. These include strengthening infrastructure, ensuring timely appointments of qualified personnel, providing specialized training, promoting collaboration and coordination among stakeholders, raising public awareness and participation, implementing effective case management practices, encouraging alternative dispute resolution, strengthening enforcement, fostering research and expertise, and advocating for legislative reforms. By addressing these recommendations, the NGT can enhance its capacity to handle environmental cases, expedite the resolution process, and uphold the principles of sustainable development, precautionality, and the Polluter Pays Principle. Collaboration and open dialogue among authorities, along with constructive approaches, are emphasized as crucial for addressing environmental challenges effectively.
    
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Author Information
  • Indian Law Society's Law College, Pune, India

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