New Delhi: In a significant move aimed at strengthening the environmental adjudication framework in the country, the Government of India has appointed two Judicial Members and four Expert Members to the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The appointments have been made based on the recommendations of the Search-cum-Selection Committee.
The newly appointed members will serve a term of four years or until they attain the age of 67 years, whichever is earlier. The appointments are expected to enhance the tribunal’s capacity to deal with complex environmental matters and expedite the disposal of pending cases.
Judicial Members Appointed
Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain – Currently a Member of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), he previously served as a Judge of the Delhi High Court. His judicial acumen and prior experience with consumer and civil matters are expected to bring valuable insight to the NGT.
Justice Umesh Chandra Sharma – Currently serving as a Judicial Member at the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT), Chandigarh, he has also served as a Judge of the Allahabad High Court, with expertise in legal processes and case law involving civil and administrative matters.
Expert Members Appointed
Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi (Retd IFoS: 1986: GJ) – Former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force (PCCF & HoFF) in Gujarat, Chaturvedi retired in December 2024. His four decades of experience in forestry and biodiversity conservation will provide crucial expertise in ecological matters.
Ishwar Singh (Retd IFoS: 1988: AGMUT) – Retired in May 2022 as PCCF of the Government of NCT of Delhi, Singh has a long track record in environmental protection and afforestation policy, particularly in urban ecosystems.
Dr. Sujit Kumar Bajpayee – A seasoned environmental administrator, Dr. Bajpayee has served as a Member of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and was formerly a Joint Secretary (Lateral Entry) in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). He brings policy-making and implementation expertise to the tribunal.
Prashant Gargava – A retired Scientist ‘F’ and Director under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) at MoEFCC, Gargava also served as Member-Secretary of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). His technical knowledge in pollution control and air quality monitoring is expected to be instrumental in shaping NGT rulings.
This latest round of appointments underscores the government’s commitment to bolstering environmental governance and ensuring that the NGT remains equipped with judicial and domain expertise to handle critical ecological disputes.
