National Green Tribunal (NGT)

• The National Green Tribunal, established in 2010, as per the National Green Tribunal Act is a specialised judicial body equipped with expertise solely for the purpose of adjudicating environmental cases in the country.

• Decisions of the Tribunal are binding. The Tribunal’s orders are enforceable as the powers vested are the same as in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.  

• The Tribunal has powers to review its own decisions. If this fails, the decision can be challenged before the Supreme Court within ninety days.

• Two important acts - Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 have been kept out of NGT’s jurisdiction.

Reserved forests

• Reserved forests are declared by respective State Governments unlike wildlife sanctuaries and national parks which are supervised by the Government of India.

• Reserved forests are declared under the Forest Rights Act, 1927.

• Rights to activities like collecting timber or grazing cattle or hunting and public entry are banned in these forests. (permission can be gained from authorities).