The National Green Tribunal and Environmental Justice in India: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Specialized Environmental Adjudication
Sinsha ViswanathanJune 25, 202610.5281/zenodo.20851629Pages 212–218 (7 pages)
Abstract
Environmental degradation has emerged as one of the most pressing challenges facing contemporary societies. In India, rapid industrialization, urbanization, and developmental activities have intensified environmental concerns such as pollution, deforestation, biodiversity loss, and climate-related risks. These challenges often disproportionately affect vulnerable communities, raising concerns of environmental justice. To address complex environmental disputes effectively, Parliament enacted the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, establishing the National Green Tribunal (NGT) as a specialized adjudicatory body. The Tribunal was designed to provide expeditious environmental justice by combining judicial expertise with scientific and technical knowledge. Since its establishment, the NGT has played a significant role in developing environmental jurisprudence through the application of principles such as sustainable development, the precautionary principle, and the polluter pays principle. This article examines the role of the NGT in advancing environmental justice in India, evaluates its achievements and limitations, and assesses its effectiveness as a specialized environmental adjudicatory institution.
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