Archive · 20 Sep 2026
Ramesh Says Modi Government Weakened India’s Green Tribunal
Jairam Ramesh says India’s environmental tribunal has become weaker.
He based his criticism on a study of tribunal appeals.
The study looked at 119 appeals decided from January to June 2026.
Sixteen appeals came from environmental or public-interest groups, and none succeeded on the merits.
Thirty of 51 appeals from industry, project developers or property owners received favourable orders.
More than half of the appeals were not decided on their main issues because of procedural or technical reasons.
Ramesh said the tribunal should return to the purpose Parliament gave it.
Chief Justice Surya Kant said environmental protection and development should be balanced.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused the Narendra Modi government of weakening the National Green Tribunal.
A South Asian Reporter for Environment Laws analysis examined 119 appeals resolved between January and June 2026.
Of 16 merit appeals filed by environmental or public-interest parties, none received a favourable order.
Industry, project-proponent and property-owner parties won favourable orders in 30 of their 51 merit appeals.
More than 50 appeals were dismissed on procedural or technical grounds, while Chief Justice Surya Kant called for balancing conservation and development.
- Who
- Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, the National Green Tribunal, South Asian Reporter for Environment Laws, and Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.
- What
- Ramesh accused the Narendra Modi government of weakening the tribunal after an analysis found differing outcomes for environmental and industry-linked appellants.
- When
- The analysis covered appeals resolved from January through June 2026; Ramesh made his remarks on Sunday, and the tribunal’s law was enacted on June 2, 2010.
- Where
- The findings concerned the National Green Tribunal’s five benches; Surya Kant spoke at the tribunal’s international conference in New Delhi.
- Why
- Ramesh said the tribunal must recover the purpose and legal spirit of providing effective, speedy environmental justice.
Criticism of the Tribunal
Balance Between Conservation and Development
Tribunal’s direction
Criticism of the Tribunal
Jairam Ramesh said the National Green Tribunal had been emasculated under the Narendra Modi government and should rediscover its courage and the letter and spirit of its founding law.
Balance Between Conservation and Development
Chief Justice Surya Kant said courts should harmonise environmental conservation and development rather than treat them as competing choices.
Appeal outcomes
Criticism of the Tribunal
Ramesh highlighted the analysis showing that none of the 16 environmental or public-interest merit appeals received favourable orders, while procedural grounds prevented many appeals from reaching the merits stage.
Balance Between Conservation and Development
The analysis also recorded favourable orders in 30 of 51 merit appeals filed by industry, project proponents or property owners, but it did not cover every tribunal order or all environmental litigation.
- Appeals examined
- 119 appeals resolved by the National Green Tribunal’s five benches between January and June 2026.
- Merit appeals
- 67 appeals were heard on their merits.
- Environmental-side appeals
- 16 merit appeals were filed by environmental or public-interest parties; none received a favourable order.
- Industry-side appeals
- 51 merit appeals were filed by industry, project proponents or property owners; 30 resulted in favourable orders.
- Procedural dismissals
- More than 50 appeals were dismissed on grounds including limitation, jurisdiction, maintainability or withdrawal.
- Share dismissed procedurally
- The analysis put procedural or technical disposals at about 44% of all appeals.
- Tribunal’s stated purpose
- The tribunal was created by an Act of Parliament to provide effective and expeditious environmental justice.