Despite providing sufficient infrastructure in Kochi, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) is yet to begin sitting of its circuit bench as assured before the Kerala High Court.
The lawyers and environmental activists are miffed at the delay in commencing the sitting. They say that more than 50 per cent of the cases pending before the National Green Tribunal (Southern Zone) are from the State.
P.B. Sahasranaman, High Court Lawyer, who mostly handles environment related cases, said that the tribunal was not able to commence its sitting in the State because the Ministry of Environment and Forests had not done anything for the same. Environmental issues affected the poor the most, who could not travel all the way to Chennai due to economic reasons, he said.
He said that the non-establishment of NGT circuit bench in Kochi was ‘denial of access to justice to the common man of the State’. “The Chairman of the NGT and the MoEF should take more interest for the establishment of a permanent bench in Kerala where there are a lot of environmental issues and the State is surviving because of its natural resources,” he added.
High Court sources said that all necessary facilities sought by the tribunal had been provided. The old High Court Hall No.VII and its adjoining chamber where the Kerala Administrative Tribunal (KAT) holds its camp sitting would be spared for the circuit bench of the NGT. The court hall and chambers would be common for both the members of the NGT and KAT. However, separate space would be provided near the court hall for the office of the NGT.
Besides, the government decided to treat members of the NGT as guests of the government .That apart, accommodation to the staff members of the NGT would be arranged at the PWD Guest House. The NGT proposes to hold its sitting in the first and fourth week of every month.
Harish Vasudevan, environmental activist and High Court Lawyer, said that the strength of the judicial members should be increased as well.
‘Non-establishment of NGT circuit bench in Kochi is denial of access to justice to the common man.’
