Ms. Pinky Singh, Assistant Professor at (VIPS-TC) Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies, Delhi, Affiliated to GGSIPU
ABSTRACT
There has been a global surge in environmental law since the early 1990s. Since then, the field of environmental law has advanced significantly. In a series of decisions, the Supreme Court has urged the creation of environmental courts. On the 18th of October in the year 2010, the National Green Tribunal was established. It was intended to be a specialised body that would deal with multidisciplinary issues. The tribunals have now evolved into mechanisms that have overcome their initial flaws.
"It is the obligation of the state to conserve and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country, and bestow upon the citizens the duty to protect the environment," says the Indian Constitution's directive principles of state policy (DPSP).
In practise, the government found it impossible to adopt DPSPs soon after independence since there were so many other issues that took precedence over the environment. Environment issues were not given enough weight in the effort to address poverty, illiteracy, and unemployment, as well as to provide basic health care. More and more industries were established in order to improve the economy's productivity. This has resulted in widespread environmental damage in India, and in the last decade, the focus has steadily switched to environmental conservation. This article examines the National Green Tribunal's founding, as well as the jurisprudence and reforms it has enacted since its beginning and will examine many orders issued by the tribunal as well as the restrictions that have limited the Tribunal's ability to achieve its goals. There are already over a thousand environmental courts around the world that deal with environmental issues. Good governance and enforcement are critical for attaining the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and India has made progress in this regard.
Keywords: National Green Tribunal, Constitution, Environmental Justice, Environmental Court’s and Jurisdiction
