India creates court exclusively for environmental matters

Environmental Minister, Jairam Ramesh has launched the National Green Tribunal (NGT) which is dedicated to hear matters related to the environment exclusively. The NGT will replace the existing Environment Appellate Authority, where all the pending environmental cases will be transferred to the NGT. Ramesh said that India will be the third country after Australia and New Zealand which will have such a tribunal dedicated exclusively to deal with environmental matters. The NGT will be headed by a Chairperson and will have 20 members who are experts in environmental sciences and will have power to issue directions for damages. The tribunal has been directed to apply the polluter pays principle and the principle of sustainable development.

India creates court exclusively for environmental matters barandbench.com Wed, Oct 20, 2010