Environmental justice.

This article discusses the role of India’s National Green Tribunal (NGT) which was established on 18 October 2010 as a dedicated environmental court under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010 and became fully operational with effect from 4 July 2011. The NGT was constituted as a multidisciplinary body with the necessary expertise for the effective and speedy disposal of cases relating to environmental protection, forest conservation and enforcement of legal rights relating to environment protection. The article brings out the jurisdiction, powers and functions of the tribunal for effecting environmental justice, the significant cases adjudicated by it in the four years of its existence, the principles applied, the accessibility and value addition to environmental jurisprudence through innovative application of law and the objectivity demonstrated by the tribunal in balancing the protection of the environment and sustainable development. The tribunal, with its specific mandate constitutes an important step in the access to justice on matters concerning the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]