National Green Tribunal: set up on 18 October 2010, it aims to decide cases within 6 months and is guided by natural justice
Background
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) was established on 18 October 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.
It was set up for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.
The Tribunal is mandated to endeavour to dispose of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing.
New Delhi is the Principal Place of Sitting; Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai are the other four places of sitting.
The Tribunal is not bound by the procedure under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 or the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, and is guided by principles of natural justice; Section 19 of the Act lets it regulate its own procedure.
It is vested with the powers of a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, and it entertains letter petitions that bring to light substantial environmental damage.
In plain words
Principal Place of Sitting Main seat of the Tribunal — New Delhi is the Tribunal's main seat; the four other places of sitting are Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai.
Principles of natural justice Fair-hearing standards — The standards that guide the Tribunal in place of strict civil procedure.
Letter petition Complaint made by letter — A letter that brings substantial environmental damage to the Tribunal's notice and is entertained as a petition.