New Delhi: The Supreme Court has expressed disappointment over the vacancy in the National Green Tribunal and directed the government to notify all the existing vacancies at one go in the next six months.
Terming it as ‘appalling situation’, a three-judge bench comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and Sanjiv Khanna noted that as of today, there are about 14 vacancies (seven judicial members and seven technical members).
The top court said that the Tribunal is presently functioning with the strength of only seven judges (one chairman, three judicial members and three technical members) despite the mandate of the National Green tribunal Act to ensure that the minimum number of members shall not be less than ten.
“This is an appalling situation concerning the premier institution such as National Green Tribunal, which is required to deal with environmental issues. That cannot be countenanced,” it said.
The Supreme Court said it was conscious of the reply filed by the Union of India in which assurance has been given that notification for filling up nine vacancies is being issued by the end of July, 2020.
“That, in our opinion, is not enough. We deem it appropriate to direct the Union of India to notify all the existing vacancies at one go (of seven judicial members and seven technical members), including the anticipated vacancies likely to take place in the next six months,” added the bench.