National Green Tribunal ‘emasculated’ by Modi government, says Jairam Ramesh
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused the Modi government of weakening the National Green Tribunal (NGT), citing a study that shows no environmental or public-interest appeals were ruled in favor of the petitioners in the first half of 2026. The report suggests a significant bias toward industry and project proponents in tribunal decisions.
Why it matters
The integrity of environmental oversight bodies is critical for sustainable development and the protection of public interests against industrial expansion.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday (September 20, 2026) alleged that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has been “emasculated” by the Narendra Modi government over the past decade and cited a study showing that it did not rule in favour of an environmental or public-interest party in a single appeal heard on merits in the first six months of this year.
The former Environment Minister said the NGT should now rediscover the letter and spirit of the NGT Act, 2010.
“A study published by the South Asian Reporter for Environment Laws (SAREL) on 19 September 2026 found that, during the first six months of 2026, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) did not rule in favour of an environmental or public-interest party in a single appeal heard on merits,” Mr. Ramesh said in a post on X.
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