It doesn’t matter if one Swatanter goes, another will come, but the institution, the National Green Tribunal, must go on, said Justice Swatanter Kumar, on his last day as chairperson of the green panel on Tuesday.
Justice Kumar was appointed the head of the Tribunal in 2012, after the first chairperson Lokeshwar Singh Panta relinquished his post in 2011.
The green panel will now have U. D. Salvi as the acting chairperson.
“It is said that this has been a golden era in NGT and history will write these words in gold. I hope if the NGT has contributed anything, then let those things be written with green leaves and beautiful flowers and not in gold,” said Justice Kumar.
He added: “I leave this institution with a great sense of satisfaction, primarily for three reasons. Firstly, the NGT’s effulgence on the international map has been quoted as the lead environmental Tribunal in the world. Secondly, it has been able to provide to the public at large an inexpensive and expeditious justice in environmental cases. Lastly, but more importantly, the Tribunal has engendered in the people of our country, environmental awareness and environmental cautiousness.”
Landmark judgments
With a career spanning over 46 years, Justice Kumar has earlier been judges at both the Supreme Court and High Courts. As the chairperson of the NGT, Justice Kumar passed landmark orders and judgments, including banning 10-year-old diesel vehicles and 15-year-old petrol vehicles, on air pollution in the Capital and on efforts to rejuvenate the Ganga and Yamuna.
“I have one very humble request. Please keep the institutional interest ahead of your self interest. Not that all decisions were appreciated. Not that all efforts must bring results, but to strive is our duty. Don’t ever leave your duty,” signed off Justice Kumar.
