Justice Sheo Kumar Singh is appointed as the acting Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The Union Government notified his appointment on July 06.
Justice Singh is a judicial member of NGT and will replace Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel as the acting Chairperson of NGT until the new appointment is made. The government made this decision because of the retirement of Justice Goel, which happened on July 06 after completing his five years tenure.
This decision was made in accordance with the provisions of the Tribunal Reform Act, 2021, read with the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. As per the notification issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Justice Singh is appointed as the acting Chairperson under section 11 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 (19 of 2010), read with clause (a) of rule 7 of the Tribunal (Conditions of Service) Rules, 2021, which authorises the Central Government to make his appointment.
Justice Sheo Kumar Singh completed his graduation from the University of Allahabad in the year 1975. After graduating, he again joined the University of Allahabad to complete his law degree and passed out in 1978.
He joined Judicial Service in 1984 and worked as District Judge in different districts of Uttar Pradesh, Registrar (Judicial), Supreme Court of India, Registrar General, and High Court of Judicature at Allahabad before his elevation as High Court Judge. He was appointed Observer, Ram Janam Bhumi, Ayodhya, Faizabad (By order of Supreme of India to monitor the excavation work carried out by the expert team of Archeological Survey of India and worked there wef 2005 to 2017).
Justice Singh was elevated as Judge at Allahabad High Court and served there till January 16 2018. He also served as Judge Industrial Tribunal UP, Chairman of the Oversight Committee, UP constituted by NGT. He was appointed as Judicial Member NGT on March 11, 2020, and now Justice Singh is appointed as the acting Chairperson replacing Justice Goel, who has completed his tenure of 5 years.
During his period of five years, Justice Goel brought in several innovative and people-friendly methods for providing justice in the area of the environment. The environment ministry stated, “In the last five years July 2018 to July 2023 several innovative steps have been taken by National Green Tribunal with a focus to simplify the procedures to make NGT people friendly and to improve faster disposal of matters”.
Justice Goel dealt with various matters related to environmental protection and reprimanded various Government bodies and officials. Notably, in February, the bench headed by Justice Goel directed the Delhi government to pay Rs 2,232 crore as environmental compensation for improper waste management. He stated that compliance with environmental norms on waste management has to be on high priority, and it is high time that the union territory of Delhi realised its duty to the law and citizens.
After perusing the report filed by the Chief Secretary, the bench observed there were gaps in the management of solid and liquid waste in the national capital.
“On the pattern of compensation awarded in respect of other states (at the rate of Rs 2 crore per million litres per day (MLD) of untreated sewage and Rs 300 per tonne of untreated legacy waste), compensation of Rs 3,132 crore is liable to be levied on the Delhi government — Rs 990 crore for solid waste and Rs 2,142 crore for liquid waste,” the bench said in an order passed on February 16.
The bench has deducted the compensation for solid waste already levied (Rs 900 crore). The bench said the remaining amount of Rs 2,232 crore Delhi government has to pay on the “polluter pays” principle.
The bench said that the amount of compensation has to be used for tackling the “emergent situation prevailing in Delhi, posing danger to the safety of the citizens,” apart from
continuing damage to the environment which cannot be ignored.
The bench said that this payment would be the responsibility of the chief secretary, Delhi, and the payment should be made within one month and credited to a separate ring-fenced account.
