Home / Environment / NGT Faces Staff Shortage, Digital Gaps, Panel Warns
NGT Faces Staff Shortage, Digital Gaps, Panel Warns
20 Aug
Summary
- NGT suffers critical staffing shortages and relies on contract workers.
- Parliamentary panel noted inadequate digital infrastructure at NGT.
- High pendency of cases across NGT benches impacts environmental justice.
A parliamentary standing committee has identified significant operational deficiencies within the National Green Tribunal (NGT), a specialized environmental court established in 2010. The panel's report, tabled recently, pointed to severe staffing shortages and a heavy reliance on contractual workers as major concerns.
Furthermore, the committee expressed surprise at the NGT's inadequate digital infrastructure, lacking a dedicated IT section despite the government's push for digitalization. It recommended the establishment of such a section across all NGT benches to ensure reliable technology use.
As of June 30, 2026, the NGT had received 55,619 cases, with 49,740 disposed of and 5,879 still pending. The Principal Bench in New Delhi has the highest backlog with 2,318 cases.
The panel emphasized that prolonged case pendency weakens deterrence and permits environmental harm to persist. It urged filling judicial and expert member vacancies and suggested a mechanism to track cases older than three years.
Weaknesses in enforcing NGT orders were also noted, with recommendations for stronger follow-up mechanisms and clear responsibility assignment. The committee also stressed the need for timely and visible institutional responses to high-profile environmental issues.
