Chapter II ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TRIBUNAL

The Central Government shall, by notification, establish, with effect from such date as may be specified therein, a Tribunal to be known as the National Green Tribunal to exercise the jurisdiction, powers and authority conferred on such Tribunal by or under this Act.

1. (1) The Tribunal shall consist of--
   • (a) a full time Chairperson;
   • (b) not less than ten but subject to maximum of twenty full time Judicial Members as the Central Government may, from time to time, notify;
   • (c) not less than ten but subject to maximum of twenty full time Expert Members, as the Central Government may, from time to time, notify.
2. (2) The Chairperson of the Tribunal may, if considered necessary, invite any one or more person having specialised knowledge and experience in a particular case before the Tribunal to assist the Tribunal in that case.
3. (3) The Central Government may, by notification, specify the ordinary place or places of sitting of the Tribunal, and the territorial jurisdiction falling under each such place of sitting.
4. (4) The Central Government may, in consultation with the Chairperson of the Tribunal, make rules regulating generally the practices and procedure of the Tribunal including--
   • (a) the rules as to the persons who shall be entitled to appear before the Tribunal;
   • (b) the rules as to the procedure for hearing applications and appeals and other matters [including the circuit procedure for hearing at a place other than the ordinary place of its sitting falling within the jurisdiction referred to in sub-section (3)], pertaining to the applications and appeals;
   • (c) the minimum number of Members who shall hear the applications and appeals in respect of any class or classes of applications and appeals: Provided that the number of Expert Members shall, in hearing an application or appeal, be equal to the number of Judicial Members hearing such application or appeal;
   • (d) rules relating to transfer of cases by the Chairperson from one place of sitting (including the ordinary place of sitting) to other place of sitting.

1. (1) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as the Chairperson or Judicial Member of the Tribunal unless he is, or has been, a Judge of the Supreme Court of India or Chief Justice of a High Court: Provided that a person who is or has been a Judge of the High Court shall also be qualified to be appointed as a Judicial Member.
2. (2) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as an Expert Member, unless he,--
   • (a) has a degree in Master of Science (in physical sciences or life sciences) with a Doctorate degree or Master of Engineering or Master of Technology and has an experience of fifteen years in the relevant field including five years practical experience in the field of environment and forests (including pollution control, hazardous substance management, environment impact assessment, climate change management, biological diversity management and forest conservation) in a reputed National level institution; or
   • (b) has administrative experience of fifteen years including experience of five years in dealing with environmental matters in the Central or a State Government or in a reputed National or State level institution.
3. (3) The Chairperson, Judicial Member and Expert Member of the Tribunal shall not hold any other office during their tenure as such.
4. (4) The Chairperson and other Judicial and Expert Members shall not, for a period of two years from the date on which they cease to hold office, accept any employment in, or connected with the management or administration of, any person who has been a party to a proceeding before the Tribunal under this Act: Provided that nothing contained in this section shall apply to any employment under the Central Government or a State Government or local authority or in any statutory authority or any corporation established by or under any Central, State or Provincial Act or a Government company as defined in section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956).

1. (1) Subject to the provisions of section 5, the Chairperson, Judicial Members and Expert Members of the Tribunal shall be appointed by the Central Government.
2. (2) The Chairperson shall be appointed by the Central Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of India.
3. (3) The Judicial Members and Expert Members of the Tribunal shall be appointed on the recommendations of such Selection Committee and in such manner as may be prescribed.

The Chairperson, Judicial Member and Expert Member of the Tribunal shall hold office as such for a term of five years from the date on which they enter upon their office, but shall not be eligible for re-appointment: Provided that in case a person, who is or has been a Judge of the Supreme Court, has been appointed as Chairperson or Judicial Member of the Tribunal, he shall not hold office after he has attained the age of seventy years: Provided further that in case a person, who is or has been the Chief Justice of a High Court, has been appointed as Chairperson or Judicial Member of the Tribunal, he shall not hold office after he has attained the age of sixty-seven years: Provided also that in case a person, who is or has been a Judge of a High Court, has been appointed as Judicial Member of the Tribunal, he shall not hold office after he has attained the age of sixty-seven years: Provided also that no Expert Member shall hold office after he has attained the age of sixty-five years.

The Chairperson, Judicial Member and Expert Member of the Tribunal may, by notice in writing under their hand addressed to the Central Government, resign their office.

The salaries and allowances payable to, and the other terms and conditions of service (including pension, gratuity and other retirement benefits) of, the Chairperson, Judicial Member and Expert Member of the Tribunal shall be such as may be prescribed: Provided that neither the salary and allowances nor the other terms and conditions of service of the Chairperson, Judicial Member and Expert Member shall be varied to their disadvantage after their appointment.

1. (1) The Central Government may, in consultation with the Chief Justice of India, remove from office of the Chairperson or Judicial Member of the Tribunal, who,--
   • (a) has been adjudged an insolvent; or
   • (b) has been convicted of an offence which, in the opinion of the Central Government, involves moral turpitude; or
   • (c) has become physically or mentally incapable; or
   • (d) has acquired such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions; or
   • (e) has so abused his position as to render his continuance in office prejudicial to the public interest.
2. (2) The Chairperson or Judicial Member shall not be removed from his office except by an order made by the Central Government after an inquiry made by a Judge of the Supreme Court in which such Chairperson or Judicial Member has been informed of the charges against him and given a reasonable opportunity of being heard in respect of those charges.
3. (3) The Central Government may suspend from office the Chairperson or Judicial Member in respect of whom a reference of conducting an inquiry has been made to the Judge of the Supreme Court under sub-section (2), until the Central Government passes an order on receipt of the report of inquiry made by the Judge of the Supreme Court on such reference.
4. (4) The Central Government may, by rules, regulate the procedure for inquiry referred to in sub-section (2).
5. (5) The Expert Member may be removed from his office by an order of the Central Government on the grounds specified in sub-section (1) and in accordance with the procedure as may be notified by the Central Government: Provided that the Expert Member shall not be removed unless he has been given an opportunity of being heard in the matter.

1[10A. Qualifications, terms and conditions of service of Chairperson, Judicial Member and Expert Member.--Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the qualifications, appointment, term of office, salaries and allowances, resignation, removal and other terms and conditions of service of the Chairperson, Judicial Member and Expert Member of the Tribunal appointed after the commencement of 2 [the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021, shall be governed by the provisions of Chapter II of the said Act]: Provided that the Chairperson, Judicial Member and Expert Member appointed before the commencement of Part XIV of Chapter VI of the Finance Act, 2017, shall continue to be governed by the provisions of this Act, and the rules made thereunder as if the provisions of section 184 of the Finance Act, 2017 had not come into force.]

In the event of the occurrence of any vacancy in the office of the Chairperson of the Tribunal, by reason of his death, resignation or otherwise, such Judicial Member of the Tribunal as the Central Government may, by notification, authorise in this behalf, shall act as the Chairperson until the date on which a new Chairperson is appointed in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

1. (1) The Central Government shall determine the nature and categories of the officers and other employees required to assist the Tribunal in the discharge of its functions.
2. (2) The recruitment of the officers and other employees of the Tribunal shall be made by the Chairperson in such manner as may be prescribed.
3. (3) The officers and other employees of the Tribunal shall discharge their functions under the general superintendence of the Chairperson.
4. (4) The salaries and allowances and conditions of service of the officers and other employees of the Tribunal shall be such as may be prescribed.

The Chairperson of the Tribunal shall exercise such financial and administrative powers as may be vested in him under the rules made by the Central Government: Provided that the Chairperson may delegate such of his financial and administrative powers, as he may think fit, to any Judicial Member or Expert Member or officer of the Tribunal subject to the condition that the Member or such officer, while exercising such delegated power, continues to act under the direction, control and supervision of the Chairperson.