NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL IN INDIA

India’s National Green Tribunal (NGT), established in 2010 under Article 21 of the Constitution, is a pioneering environmental court modeled after similar bodies in Australia and New Zealand. As one of the first such institutions in nation, the NGT was created to provide swift, specialized resolution of environmental disputes. It operates as a fast-track, quasi-judicial body, distinct for its equal representation of judges and environmental experts, and follows principles of natural justice instead of the traditional Civil Procedure Code. The NGT’s principal bench is in New Delhi, with circuit benches in Bhopal, Chennai, Kolkata, and Pune, ensuring broad regional access. Its authority includes awarding compensation and enforcing the “polluter pays” principle. The tribunal’s establishment addresses the increasing complexity of environmental cases and helps reduce the caseload of regular courts, thereby strengthening the reach and effectiveness of environmental justice throughout India. The paper examines this institution from different dimensions.