National Green Tribunal (NGT) is a specialised judicial body established for the effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection, conservation of forests and natural resources, and enforcement of environmental rights, with the power to apply the principles of sustainable development, the precautionary principle, and the polluter pays principle. Under Indian law, it was established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, with its Principal Bench in New Delhi and four zonal benches across India.
Legal definition
The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 provides for the establishment and jurisdiction of the Tribunal:
Section 3(1): The Central Government shall, by notification, establish a Tribunal to be known as the National Green Tribunal to exercise the jurisdiction, powers and authority conferred on it by or under this Act.
Section 14(1): The Tribunal shall have the jurisdiction over all civil cases where a substantial question relating to environment (including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment), is involved and such question arises out of the implementation of the enactments specified in Schedule I.
Schedule I lists seven statutes over which the NGT has jurisdiction:
- Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
- Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977
- Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
- Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
- Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
- Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991
- Biological Diversity Act, 2002
Section 15: The Tribunal shall have jurisdiction to hear applications for grant of relief, compensation, and restitution of property and environment, arising from any accident occurring while handling hazardous substances.
Section 20: The Tribunal shall, while passing any order or decision, apply the principles of sustainable development, the precautionary principle and the polluter pays principle.
The NGT's chairperson must be a retired Supreme Court judge, and its judicial members must be retired High Court judges. Expert members must have professional qualifications and experience of at least 15 years in environmental science, engineering, or related fields.
How courts have interpreted this term
Bhopal Gas Peedith Mahila Udyog Sangathan v. Union of India [(2012) 8 SCC 326]
The Supreme Court affirmed the constitutional validity of the NGT and its exclusive jurisdiction over environmental matters. The Court held that the creation of a specialised tribunal with judicial and expert members is a valid legislative response to the complex, multidisciplinary nature of environmental disputes. The Court further held that the NGT's orders are binding and enforceable, and appeals from NGT orders lie only to the Supreme Court under Section 22 of the Act — not to High Courts.
Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v. Union of India [Though predating the NGT, this (1996) 5 SCC 647 decision]
The Supreme Court recognised the polluter pays principle and the precautionary principle as part of Indian environmental law — principles that the NGT is now statutorily mandated to apply under Section 20. This foundational decision directly informed the legislative design of the NGT Act.
Jan Chetna v. State of Chhattisgarh [(2024) — NGT Principal Bench]
The NGT applied the principle of intergenerational equity in a case involving illegal sand mining in river beds, holding that the present generation holds natural resources in trust for future generations and that systematic depletion of riverbeds through mining violates this trust. The Tribunal imposed environmental compensation and directed restoration of the affected river stretches.
Why this matters
The NGT has fundamentally transformed environmental governance in India since its establishment in 2010. Before the NGT, environmental disputes were heard by civil courts — a process that was slow, expensive, and lacking in environmental expertise. The NGT provides a specialised, relatively accessible, and time-bound forum where affected citizens, communities, and organisations can challenge environmental damage, seek compensation, and enforce environmental conditions.
For project proponents and industries, the NGT is the primary forum where environmental clearances are challenged, pollution complaints are adjudicated, and compliance with environmental conditions is enforced. The Tribunal has the power to impose environmental compensation, direct closure of polluting units, order restoration of damaged ecosystems, and penalise non-compliance with environmental clearance conditions. NGT orders carry the same enforceability as civil court decrees.
For environmental activists and affected communities, the NGT has significantly lowered the barriers to environmental justice. No court fee is required for filing applications (only a nominal fee of Rs 1,000 for an original application under Section 14), the limitation period is six months from the date of first knowledge of the cause (or five years from the date of occurrence), and the Tribunal is mandated to dispose of cases within six months. The Tribunal's five benches — Principal Bench (New Delhi), and zonal benches at Pune, Bhopal, Chennai, and Kolkata — provide geographical access across India.
For legal practitioners, the NGT's jurisdiction is defined by Schedule I — the Tribunal cannot entertain disputes arising under statutes not listed in Schedule I. Notably, the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 is not included, meaning wildlife-related disputes must still be adjudicated by regular courts. Appeals from NGT orders lie directly to the Supreme Court under Section 22, bypassing the High Courts.
A significant limitation is that the NGT does not have criminal jurisdiction — it cannot impose imprisonment. Environmental offences that are criminal in nature (such as violations of the Environment Protection Act carrying imprisonment) must still be prosecuted before criminal courts.
Related terms
Related processes:
Related principles:
Frequently asked questions
Can any person file a case before the NGT?
Yes. Under Section 18(2) of the NGT Act, any person (including any organisation or body of individuals) can file an application before the NGT for relief, compensation, or restitution of the environment. Unlike the Supreme Court's PIL jurisdiction, which requires demonstrable public interest, the NGT's jurisdiction is broad enough to allow any aggrieved person or even a person acting in a representative capacity to approach the Tribunal.
What is the limitation period for filing a case before the NGT?
Under Section 14(3), an application must be filed within six months from the date on which the cause of action for the application first arose. However, the Tribunal may condone delay of up to 60 days if the applicant demonstrates sufficient cause. For claims of compensation or relief arising from accidents involving hazardous substances under Section 15, the limitation period is five years from the date of the occurrence.
Can the NGT's orders be appealed?
Yes, but only to the Supreme Court of India. Under Section 22 of the NGT Act, any person aggrieved by an order of the NGT may file an appeal to the Supreme Court within 90 days. High Courts do not have jurisdiction to hear appeals from NGT orders. However, the Supreme Court has clarified that this provision does not bar the High Court's writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution in exceptional circumstances.
Does the NGT have jurisdiction over wildlife cases?
No. The NGT's jurisdiction is limited to disputes arising under the seven statutes listed in Schedule I of the NGT Act. The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 is not included in Schedule I. Therefore, disputes relating to wildlife protection, poaching, encroachment on wildlife sanctuaries, and similar matters must be adjudicated by regular civil or criminal courts, or addressed through the Supreme Court's PIL jurisdiction.
This entry is part of the Veritect Indian Legal Glossary, a comprehensive reference of Indian legal terminology grounded in statutory text and judicial interpretation.
Last updated: 2026-03-27. Veritect provides this content for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.