Chennai: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has announced that due to the sudden unwillingness of former Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice S J Vazifdar to head the committee formed to probe the Sterlite case, a new judge will be announced to take his post by today.
The delay was due to unprecedented developments and complications in appointing a judge immediately, the tribunal reportedly stated after an urgent hearing held today.
Vazifdar, on Wednesday, recused himself from heading the NGT-constituted three-member independent committee that is mandated to decide Vedanta Limitedās plea challenging closure of its Sterlite copper smelter plant at Thoothukudi.
Vazifdar expressed his unwillingness to act as chairman of the committee and communicated this to NGT.
The principal bench of the tribunal, comprising chairman A K Goel, judicial members Jawad Rahim, S P Wangdi and expert member Nagin Nanda, are likely to consider alternative names.
Though the exact reason for Vazifdarās decision is not known, sources said the former judge has cited personal grounds for not heading the committee.