NGT's right to independent action on environmental issues: Supreme

The Supreme Court said in a landmark judgment that the National Green Tribunal-NGT has the right to take action independently. According to media reports, the Green Tribunal may take action based on the submission.
A case from Maharashtra was heard in the Supreme Court. In Maharashtra, the municipality was prosecuted by the National Green Tribunal for violating environmental regulations. A case was then filed in the court against the proceedings of the National Green Tribunal. The case reached the Supreme Court.
Earlier, the apex court had asked the central government to file an affidavit in this regard. The central government then argued that the NGT has the right to consider petitions, but not the right to act independently.
At the time, the Supreme Court had reserved judgment. A three-judge panel ruled in the case that only two parties were involved when it came to the environment. That is a common issue. The NGT was set up to address environmental issues. So NGT can take action on its own from media reports or on the basis of representations.
The Supreme Court said that NGT cannot be bound by symbolic law. It cannot be said that he just has the right to think. It is also important to recognize that this tribunal conducts proceedings.
The Green Tribunal was set up in 2010 after the National Green Tribunal Act was passed.