NGT’s southern bench defunct for six months

In fact, the failure to fill up the vacancies in the southern bench has led to the piling up of over 500 applications. Along with this, a million-dollar question as to when these cases would be dealt with also looms large.

But what irks many is the failure of the centre to act despite being aware that the vacancies are not being filled up, would render the bench totally defunct. Also, many feel that the centre remaining a mute spectator despite various bodies crying hoarse about the NGT’s fate hanging in balance, only substantiates the allegations that the ruling BJP, in the centre, is keen on protecting the interest of businessmen. 

In fact, to a query raised by the Supreme Court in December 2017 on the shortage of members in the NGTs, the top court was informed that the delay was owing to the government’s keenness on changing the process itself. It is said that the Centre aims to have a five-member panel, headed by the Chief Justice of India, to appoint a chairperson of the Tribunal.

Social activist Jawaharlal Shanmugam, who has moved the NGT as party-in-person on several issues including the disposal of biomedical waste in hospitals, said “The lack of it (southern bench of NGT) has led to big builders and polluting industries violating norms with impunity allegedly in connivance with the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, which has literally turned into Tamil Nadu Pollution Creation Board.”