Introduction

Introduction

ACTIVITIES OF POLICY AND LAW DIVISION AND FUTRE PLAN

POLICY AND LAW DIVISION of the Ministry of Environment,  Forest and Climate Change  handles mainly the following subjects:

The Policy and Law Division is implementing the Scheme “Establishment of Environment Commission and Tribunal”.   This scheme includes following three components

  1. National Green Tribunal
  2. Dhanu Taluka Environment Protection Authority(DTEPA)
  3. Loss of Ecology (Prevention and Payment of Compensation) Authority

The establishment matters of the NGT are handled in Policy and Law Section.  The Establishment matters in respect of other two authorities are handled in RE Division and CP Division.  The Policy and Law Division  allocates  Budget to these two authorities.

National Green Tribunal Act 2010:

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has been established on 18th October, 2010 under the NGT Act, 2010.  The NGT has been established 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.

The Tribunal has five places of sitting with Principal Bench  in Delhi.  The other four zonal benches are at  Pune, Kolkata, Bhopal and Chennai.   In addition, there are three circuit Benches at Shimla, Shillong and Jodhpur.

The present Chairperson  of the Tribunal, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Swatanter Kumar is a former Judge of the Supreme Court of India.  Judicial Members  of the Tribunal are drawn from Judiciary  while Expert Members are experts in physical and life sciences, engineering and law including persons having practical knowledge and administrative experience in the field of environmental policy and regulation.  In addition to the Chairperson, 7 Judicial and 8 Expert Members are presently working in the Tribunal.

Legal Monitoring Cell:

Policy and Law Division also monitors the court cases pertaining to Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.  For effective monitoring  of court cases in the Ministry a Legal Monitoring Cell has been set up under PL Division and a centralized court  cases management system has been developed.

Eco Mark Scheme:

It is a Scheme of Labelling of Environment Friendly Products. The scheme is under restructuring.