The National Green Tribunal has directed State governments and Union Territories to fill within three months vacancies in their pollution control boards by appointing persons with requisite qualifications.
“The post of Chairman/Member Secretary should be advertised and thrown open for all candidates irrespective of the fact whether they are in the government, academia or in private sector, so as to attract the best talent,” a Bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said on Wednesday.
The judgment came on a plea by Uttarakhand resident Rajendra Singh Bhandari, who had challenged the constitution of State pollution control boards on grounds that people who did not qualify were appointed as Chairman, Member Secretary and Members of these boards.
The Tribunal said the Chairman or Member Secretary should have a fixed term, not more than one term. Such persons should not hold office in the Board in accordance to their tenure in State government.
