Significance of Green Tribunals in Ensuring Environmental Justice in India:

Challenges and Prospects for the Future

Abstract

Environmental justice stands as a core principle within the environmental legal framework. It encompasses judicial and administrative mechanisms, providing remedies, as well as ensuring community engagement in governance. These "access rights" stem from international commitments aimed at fostering an environmentally sustainable and equitable approach to justice. This article examines the present judicial structure in the context of environmental justice, which is an essential element toward achieving sustainable development goals. Over the past decade, the Government, Judiciary and Social Sector have shown a growing interest in addressing issues of environmental matters. The 2030 agenda has become an essential guiding principle for all the countries in the world in shaping their laws and policies to fulfil the objectives of sustainable growth and development. The Indian Government acknowledged that the environmental justice is important and the formation of National Green Tribunal was an essential step in this direction. This article aims to highlight the potential of NGT in addressing environmental cases for maintaining the balance between economic development and sustainable growth. It further delves into the various challenges that this tribunal would come across in providing the platform to marginalized and underprivileged groups for ensuring environmental justice. The article concludes with policy and legal reform recommendations for the effective functioning of NGT, thereby, increasing access of poor and vulnerable groups to socio-environmental justice.