Lok Sabha Question No. 2432 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-15
Subject: Pending Cases in NGT
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Appalanaidu Kalisetti, Shri Damodar Agrawal, Smt. Shobhanaben Mahendrasinh Baraiya, Smt. Anita Nagarsingh Chouhan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2432

TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025

## Pending Cases in NGT

2432.  SMT. SHOBHANABEN MAHENDRASINH BARAIYA:

SMT. ANITA NAGARSINGH CHOUHAN:

SHRI APPALANAIDU KALISETTI:

SHRI DAMODAR AGRAWAL:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) the  number  of  cases  registered,  disposed,  and  pending  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the National Green Tribunal (NGT) during the last five years and the current year, year, Bench and State/UT-wise;
- (b) whether multiple Benches of the NGT are facing delays in the disposal of cases due to increasing pendency, if so, the details of the average time taken for disposal, Benchwise;
- (c) the present number of vacancies of Judicial Members, Expert Members, and other staff under Section 12 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, Bench and post-wise;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to establish additional Benches of the NGT under Section 4(3) of the said Act, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether any measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to increase the disposal rate of pending cases, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (f) whether the Government is undertaking awareness programmes regarding the NGT, if so, the details thereof along with the funds allocated for such activities?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a) & (b)   As per information provided by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the details regarding number of cases registered, disposed and pending with NGT during the last five years and current year  are given at Annexure -I . Further, NGT has reported that there is no delay in the disposal of cases.
- (c)   Presently, NGT has six (06) vacant posts of Judicial Members and four (04) vacant posts of Expert Members. Details of vacancies in respect of other staff are given at Annexure - II
- (d)  There are five (05) existing places of sitting of the National Green Tribunal, viz. Delhi (Principal  Bench),  Pune  (Western  Zonal  Bench),  Bhopal  (Central  Zonal  Bench),  Chennai (Southern Zonal Bench), and Kolkata (Eastern Zonal Bench), which cover the entire territorial jurisdiction of India. There is no requirement or proposal to establish additional benches of NGT.
- (e)    In  order  to  increase  the  disposal  rate  of  cases,  the  Government  has supported  NGT  to upgrade  the  digital  infrastructure  at  their  all  Benches  by  facilitating  the  virtual  court proceedings and e filing of cases through a dedicated portal.

(f)   Govt. provides the funds to NGT for organising National/International Conferences from time to time on Environmental Issues. The last such National Conference was organised on 29 th   & 30 th   March, 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi wherein various stakeholders have participated. The allotted budget to NGT in Revised Estimates (R.E.) for the Financial Year 2025-26 under Office Expenses head is Rs. 7 Crores.

Annexure - I

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  &  (b)  OF  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.  2432  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  15.12.2025 REGARDING 'PENDING CASES IN NGT'

## Bench-wise Details of Cases in National Green Tribunal (NGT)

| Principal Bench, New Delhi   | Principal Bench, New Delhi   | Principal Bench, New Delhi   | Principal Bench, New Delhi   |
|------------------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|
| Year                         | Institution of Cases         | Disposal of Cases            | Pendency                     |
| 2020                         | 989                          | 1315                         | 853                          |
| 2021                         | 927                          | 1110                         | 670                          |
| 2022                         | 1491                         | 1323                         | 838                          |
| 2023                         | 1948                         | 1399                         | 1387                         |
| 2024                         | 2385                         | 1878                         | 1894                         |
| Upto November 2025           | 1725                         | 1680                         | 1939                         |

| Central Zonal Bench, Bhopal   | Central Zonal Bench, Bhopal   | Central Zonal Bench, Bhopal   | Central Zonal Bench, Bhopal   |
|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| Year                          | Institution of Cases          | Disposal of Cases             | Pendency                      |
| 2020                          | 294                           | 353                           | 192                           |
| 2021                          | 283                           | 319                           | 156                           |
| 2022                          | 237                           | 290                           | 103                           |
| 2023                          | 413                           | 336                           | 180                           |
| 2024                          | 516                           | 418                           | 278                           |
| Upto November 2025            | 376                           | 334                           | 320                           |

| Eastern Zonal Bench, Kolkata   | Eastern Zonal Bench, Kolkata   | Eastern Zonal Bench, Kolkata   | Eastern Zonal Bench, Kolkata   |
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| Year                           | Institution of Cases           | Disposal of Cases              | Pendency                       |
| 2020                           | 253                            | 223                            | 414                            |
| 2021                           | 263                            | 321                            | 309                            |
| 2022                           | 506                            | 640                            | 175                            |
| 2023                           | 344                            | 343                            | 176                            |
| 2024                           | 440                            | 272                            | 344                            |
| Upto November 2025             | 372                            | 305                            | 411                            |

| Southern Zonal Bench, Chennai   | Southern Zonal Bench, Chennai   | Southern Zonal Bench, Chennai   | Southern Zonal Bench, Chennai   |
|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
| Year                            | Institution of Cases            | Disposal of Cases               | Pendency                        |
| 2020                            | 442                             | 390                             | 534                             |
| 2021                            | 574                             | 549                             | 559                             |
| 2022                            | 479                             | 634                             | 342                             |
| 2023                            | 423                             | 350                             | 415                             |
| 2024                            | 595                             | 331                             | 680                             |
| Upto November 2025              | 476                             | 298                             | 846                             |

| Western Zonal Bench, Pune   |
|-----------------------------|

| Year               |   Institution of Cases |   Disposal of Cases |   Pendency |
|--------------------|------------------------|---------------------|------------|
| 2020               |                    323 |                 329 |        663 |
| 2021               |                    334 |                 301 |        696 |
| 2022               |                    457 |                 610 |        543 |
| 2023               |                    571 |                 454 |        660 |
| 2024               |                    758 |                 395 |       1023 |
| Upto November 2025 |                   1675 |                 765 |       1933 |

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  2432  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  15.12.2025  REGARDING 'PENDING CASES IN NGT'

## Details of vacancies of other staff in National GreenTribunal (NGT)

| NGT Bench wise Vacancy Position against Sanctioned Strength of staff as on 05.12.2025   | NGT Bench wise Vacancy Position against Sanctioned Strength of staff as on 05.12.2025   | NGT Bench wise Vacancy Position against Sanctioned Strength of staff as on 05.12.2025   | NGT Bench wise Vacancy Position against Sanctioned Strength of staff as on 05.12.2025   | NGT Bench wise Vacancy Position against Sanctioned Strength of staff as on 05.12.2025   | NGT Bench wise Vacancy Position against Sanctioned Strength of staff as on 05.12.2025   | NGT Bench wise Vacancy Position against Sanctioned Strength of staff as on 05.12.2025   | NGT Bench wise Vacancy Position against Sanctioned Strength of staff as on 05.12.2025   | NGT Bench wise Vacancy Position against Sanctioned Strength of staff as on 05.12.2025   | NGT Bench wise Vacancy Position against Sanctioned Strength of staff as on 05.12.2025   | NGT Bench wise Vacancy Position against Sanctioned Strength of staff as on 05.12.2025   | NGT Bench wise Vacancy Position against Sanctioned Strength of staff as on 05.12.2025   | NGT Bench wise Vacancy Position against Sanctioned Strength of staff as on 05.12.2025   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Sl N o                                                                                  | Name of Post                                                                            | Pay Level                                                                               | Tota l Sanc tione d Stre ngth of NGT                                                    | SS for HQ Delh i                                                                        | Sanc tione d Stren gth For each Zona l Benc h                                           | Delh i (Per son in Posit ion)                                                           | Pun e (Per son in Posi tion )                                                           | Bho pal (Per son in Posi tion )                                                         | Chen nai (Pers on in Positi on)                                                         | Kolk ata (Per son in Posit ion)                                                         | Person in Positio n                                                                     | Vacanc ies                                                                              |
| 1                                                                                       | Registrar                                                                               | Level -13                                                                               | 5                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 5                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       |
| 2                                                                                       | Dy. Registrar                                                                           | Level -12                                                                               | 5                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 3                                                                                       | 2                                                                                       |
| 3                                                                                       | Assistant Registrar                                                                     | Level -11                                                                               | 5                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 4                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       |
| 4                                                                                       | DCA                                                                                     | Level -11                                                                               | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       |
| 5                                                                                       | PPS                                                                                     | Level -11                                                                               | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       |
| 6                                                                                       | Accounts Officer                                                                        | Level -09                                                                               | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       |
| 7                                                                                       | Hindi Officer                                                                           | Level -09                                                                               | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       |
| 8                                                                                       | Section Officer                                                                         | Level -08                                                                               | 11                                                                                      | 3                                                                                       | 2                                                                                       | 4                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 2                                                                                       | 3                                                                                       | 11                                                                                      | 0                                                                                       |
| 9                                                                                       | Private Secretary                                                                       | Level -08                                                                               | 21                                                                                      | 5                                                                                       | 4                                                                                       | 5                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 8                                                                                       | 13                                                                                      |
| 1 0                                                                                     | Assistant (Judicial)                                                                    | Level -07                                                                               | 17                                                                                      | 5                                                                                       | 3                                                                                       | 5                                                                                       | 3                                                                                       | 2                                                                                       | 3                                                                                       | 2                                                                                       | 15                                                                                      | 2                                                                                       |
| 1 1                                                                                     | Librarian                                                                               | Level -06                                                                               | 5                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 4                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       |
| 1 2                                                                                     | Hindi Translator                                                                        | Level -06                                                                               | 5                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 5                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       |
| 1 3                                                                                     | Stenograp her Gr. I                                                                     | Level -06                                                                               | 21                                                                                      | 5                                                                                       | 4                                                                                       | 5                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 6                                                                                       | 15                                                                                      |
| 1 4                                                                                     | Senior Accountant                                                                       | Level -06                                                                               | 5                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 2                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 5                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       |
| 1 5                                                                                     | Staff Car Driver (Special Grade)                                                        | Level -06                                                                               | 1                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 1                                                                                       |
| 1 6                                                                                     | Staff Car Driver (Grade -I)                                                             | Level -5                                                                                | 2                                                                                       | No sanctioned                                                                           | strength                                                                                | 0                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 0                                                                                       | 2                                                                                       |

|       |                              |           |     | indicated bench wise              | indicated bench wise              |    |    |    |    |    |         |    |
|-------|------------------------------|-----------|-----|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|----|----|----|----|----|---------|----|
| 1 7   | Stenograp her Gr. II         | Level -4  |  12 | 4                                 | 2                                 |  2 |  1 |  1 |  0 |  0 | 4       |  8 |
| 1 8   | Accountan t                  | Level -4  |   5 | 1                                 | 1                                 |  1 |  2 |  1 |  1 |  0 | 5       |  0 |
| 1 9   | Staff Car Driver (Grade -II) | Level -4  |   6 | No sanctioned strength indicated  | No sanctioned strength indicated  |  4 |  2 |  0 |  0 |  0 | 6       |  0 |
| 2 0   | Staff Car Driver (OG)        | Level - 2 |  12 | bench wise No sanctioned strength | bench wise No sanctioned strength |  6 |  0 |  0 |  0 |  0 | 6       |  6 |
| 2 1   | MTS                          | Level - 1 |  24 | 8                                 | 4                                 | 20 |  2 |  4 |  7 |  3 | 24 +12* |  0 |
| Total | Total                        | Total     | 166 |                                   |                                   | 62 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 114     | 52 |

*As informed by NGT, against the sanctioned posts of 24 MTS, 36 are in position, i.e. 12 in excess due to the directions of Hon'ble Supreme Court.

………