NGT Chairperson Justice A.K. Goel To Retire On Thursday: A Look Back At Key NGT Initiatives, Decisions Under His Tenure

Justice A.K. Goel, who served as the Chief Justice of the Gauhati and Orissa High Court, was elevated to the position of a Judge in the Supreme Court in 2014. Thereafter, he assumed the role of Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on July 6, 2018. As he concludes his tenure, Justice A.K. Goel is scheduled to retire tomorrow.The NGT has played a pivotal role in upholding the fundamental rights of citizens by diligently safeguarding the environment. Through the application of key principles such as the "polluter pays" principle, environmental impact assessment, and the compensation of victims affected by hazardous activities, the NGT has consistently strived to ensure a safe and sustainable environment for all. Furthermore, the tribunal has actively issued directives to authorities, thereby playing a crucial role in the prevention and mitigation of pollution, and ultimately creating a conducive living environment for everyone.During Justice A.K.Goel's tenure, the NGT witnessed numerous significant developments and initiatives. Under his leadership, the NGT made notable strides in safeguarding the environment and upholding environmental justice. Some of the key developments and initiatives during his tenure include:Disposal Of CasesIn the last five years, the Tribunal received 15132 new cases and disposed of 16042 cases.“Out of 16042, chairperson bench disposed of 8419 cases,” states the official report.Administrative Initiatives According to NGT, During a considerable period, the tribunal faced the challenge of vacant benches, awaiting the selection and appointment of members. In response to this situation, even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NGT proactively leveraged video conferencing technology to address cases pending before these unmanned benches.Special Initiative For Disposal Of Five Year OldA special drive was undertaken to address cases that were more than five years old. These cases were assigned to a Special Bench, presided over by the Chairperson, and conducted via video conferencing (VC), resulting in their timely disposal. As a result of these efforts, it is likely that there are very few, if any, pending cases in the NGT that exceed a duration of five years.Suo motu interventions for compensation and protection of environment in cases of fatal accidents involving violation of environment safety normsIn a suo moto cognizance taken by NGT, it ordered compensation of 20 lakhs to each of the heirs of three deceased persons, including two 15-year-old children, and 5 lakhs to the injured who were engaged in illegal mining activities on the Balason river bed in Siliguri,West Bengal.Two children, along with a 20-year-old person, were crushed to death while illegally loading sand onto a truck in the Balason river bed in Siliguri on promise to pay 350 rupees each per truck.In Gujarat Pharma explosion case, NGT had awarded compensation of ten lakhs rupees to the victims of the incident.The bench rejected the argument that the NGT is barred from granting compensation to the workmen under Section 17 of the NGT Act, 2010, on the basis that they are eligible for compensation under the Workmen Compensation Act, 1923.A compensation amount of ten lakh were already disbursed so the tribunal ordered an amount of further ten lakh.In Ludhiana Gas Leak Tragedy,the Tribunal had constituted the eight member fact-finding joint Committee to be headed by Chairman, Punjab State PCB in the Ludhiana gas leak case.It had also directed the District Magistrate of Ludhiana to pay compensation of Rs. 20 lakhs each to the heirs of 11 deceased in the tragedy.In the Bastar Limestone Collapse case,the Tribunal directed the District Magistrate of Bastar to disburse Rs. 16 lakhs to the heirs of each of the deceased who died in the Bastar Limestone collapse in 2022, in addition to Rs. 4 lakhs which have already been paid.The Tribunal has also directed that Rs. 2 lakhs each be paid to the injured within one month.Monitoring Gaps In Solid And Liquid Waste Management In States and UTs Under The Direction Of Supreme CourtOne of the major interventions in respect of monitoring gaps in solid and liquid waste management, following the direction of the Apex Court, involved three rounds of interaction with the Chief Secretaries of all the States and UTs.Based on the data furnished by the Chief Secretaries, compensation of Rs. 79,234.36 crores was determined for the damage to the environment caused by acknowledged gaps in waste management discharge. This includes 26,000 MLD (liquid waste), 56,000 TPD (solid waste), and 18 crore tonnes of legacy waste. This amount was required to be kept in a ring-fenced account for restoration measures as per the action plans overseen by the Chief Secretaries and further considered in the report by the NGT.Some Key Interventions Against Illegal MiningA fact-finding committee was constituted by NGT to collect factual information and submit an action taken report on alleged illegal...

NGT Chairperson Justice A.K. Goel To Retire On Thursday: A Look Back At Key NGT Initiatives, Decisions Under His Tenure

Aiman J. Chishti

Tags