NGT has space for experts, most of them now are former Govt officers, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is operating at half its minimum strength, with only four judicial and six expert members.
• Since 2016, nine of thirteen expert members appointed to the NGT previously participated in granting green clearances at the highest government levels.
• Seven of the thirteen expert members appointed since 2016 are former Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers.
• The Tribunals Reforms Act 2021 altered the selection committee for NGT members.

Detailed Insights:

• The NGT Act mandates the tribunal to have between 10-20 full-time judicial and expert members to protect the environment.
• The trend of appointing former government officials raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest, given the NGT's appellate jurisdiction over government orders.
• Prior to 2016, only two of eleven expert members had associations with the government's green clearance process.
• Expert members are intended to be drawn from reputed national institutions or government wings dealing with environmental matters.
• The Expert Appraisal Committees (EACs) involve subject experts directly in the green clearance process within the ministry.
• The selection committee now includes the Chief Justice of India (CJI) or a nominated Supreme Court (SC) judge, two government secretaries, the sitting NGT chairperson, and the Environment secretary.

Key Concepts Involved:

• National Green Tribunal (NGT): A specialized body to handle environmental disputes.
• Green Clearance: Government approvals required for projects impacting the environment.
• Conflict of Interest: A situation where personal interests could compromise impartial judgment.