The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Principal Bench, has imposed exemplary costs of ₹1 lakh on the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) for its continued non-appearance despite due service of notice, observing that environmental proceedings cannot be treated as ordinary adversarial litigation where government authorities may choose to remain absent.

Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, Dr A. Senthil Vel and Dr. Afroz Ahmad said, "The proceedings before this Tribunal cannot be treated as part of adversarial litigation where the concerned defendants may opt out to remain absent and suffer ex-parte proceedings. On the other hand, the Union of India, concerned State and their instrumentalities are under constitutional and statutory obligations to ensure compliance with environmental norms and, therefore, the Union of India, concerned State and their instrumentalities have to ensure their representation through duly authorised representatives/Counsel before this Tribunal."

Recording that the tracking report showed due service of notice on Respondent No. 2 (MoUD) on 21.10.2025, the Tribunal noted that no one appeared on behalf of the Ministry, leading to unnecessary adjournment and delay in adjudication of serious environmental issues.

The Bench held that deliberate or repeated non-appearance by such authorities frustrates the object of environmental adjudication, and can be remedied only by imposing exemplary costs.

Granting one final opportunity to MoUD to file its reply and ensure representation, the Tribunal made the same conditional upon payment of ₹1 lakh as costs.

The Tribunal directed that the costs be deposited with the National Green Tribunal Bar Association, Principal Bench, New Delhi, clarifying that the amount shall be utilised for providing legal aid to unrepresented litigants before the Tribunal, and for creating facilities for litigants visiting the Tribunal for hearing of their cases.

In the event of non-deposit of costs, the Tribunal permitted the NGT Bar Association to initiate execution proceedings for recovery of the amount.

The matter has been listed for further consideration on 10.04.2026.

Title: T. S. Singh v. Union of India & Ors.

Mr. T.S. Singh, Applicant in person.

Mr. Gigi. C. George, Adv. for R-1.

Mr. Bhawar Pal Jadon, Ms. Gargi Chaturvedi and Ms. Anjali Sharma, Advocates for R – 3 to 5.

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