The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010

[2nd June, 2010.]

An Act to provide for the establishment of a National Green Tribunal for the effective and

expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests

and other natural resources including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment

and giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters

connected therewith or incidental thereto.

AND WHEREAS India is a party to the decisions taken at the United Nations Conference on the Human

Environment held at Stockholm in June, 1972, in which India participated, calling upon the States to take

appropriate steps for the protection and improvement of the human environment;

AND WHEREAS decisions were taken at the United Nations Conference on Environment and

Development held at Rio de Janeiro in June, 1992, in which India participated, calling upon the States to

provide effective access to judicial and administrative proceedings, including redress and remedy and to

develop national laws regarding liability and compensation for the victims of pollution and other

environmental damage;

AND WHEREAS in the judicial pronouncement in India, the right to healthy environment has been

construed as a part of the right to life under article 21 of the Constitution;

AND WHEREAS it is considered expedient to implement the decisions taken at the aforesaid

conferences and to have a National Green Tribunal in view of the involvement of multi-disciplinary

issues relating to the environment.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Sixty-first Year of the Republic of India as follows:—