ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL ON ENVIRONMENTAL JURISPRUDENCE IN INDIA

Abstract

The establishment of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2010 marked a watershed moment in India’s environmental governance framework, signifying a paradigm shift from fragmented judicial responses to an integrated, specialized adjudicatory system for environmental protection. This research critically examines the role, effectiveness, and evolving jurisprudence of the NGT in shaping India’s environmental legal landscape. The study assesses how the Tribunal has contributed to the interpretation and enforcement of environmental laws, enhanced access to environmental justice, and fostered a culture of environmental accountability among industries and state authorities. By analyzing landmark judgments, policy outcomes, and institutional practices, this paper evaluates the NGT’s success in balancing developmental imperatives with ecological sustainability, a challenge central to India’s environmental governance. Employing a doctrinal and analytical methodology, the research draws upon primary sources such as NGT case rulings, statutory provisions, and constitutional directives, supplemented by secondary literature on environmental law and public policy. Through comparative evaluation with pre-NGT judicial trends, the paper highlights how the Tribunal’s proactive and suo motu interventions have extended the scope of the right to a clean environment as part of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. The analysis further underscores the Tribunal’s contribution in operationalizing principles such as the “polluter pays,” “precautionary,” and “sustainable development” doctrines, transforming them from abstract environmental ideals into enforceable legal norms. However, the study also brings to light institutional limitations that have constrained the Tribunal’s impact, including challenges related to enforcement capacity, jurisdictional overlaps, and administrative delays. The research identifies the need for better integration between the NGT, state pollution control boards, and local governance mechanisms to ensure effective compliance and monitoring of environmental orders. It argues that the Tribunal’s potential lies not only in adjudicating disputes but in steering environmental governance toward transparency, accountability, and ecological stewardship. In conclusion, the paper asserts that the National Green Tribunal has significantly advanced environmental jurisprudence in India by embedding environmental rights within the broader framework of constitutional justice. Yet, for its influence to be sustainable, systemic reforms and institutional strengthening are imperative. The study thus positions the NGT as both a legal innovator and a necessary catalyst for India’s transition toward ecologically responsible governance.