Justice Sheo Kumar Singh to continue as NGT judicial member until new affiliates' appointment: Supreme Court

Justice Sheo Kumar Singh to continue as NGT judicial member until new affiliates' appointment: Supreme Court

The petition will be heard on 27 January

The Supreme Court has directed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to allow Justice Sheo Kumar Singh to hold office as a member of the tribunal. This would continue until the process of selection of the judicial members was completed and the charge was taken by the new members.

A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha was considering an application filed by Enviro Legal Defence Firm.

Appearing for the applicant, advocate Kazi Sangay Thupden submitted that out of a sanctioned strength of 10 judicial and 10 expert members, NGT had six judicial members and five expert members. Also, one of the members (Justice Sheo Kumar Singh) was to demit office on 16 January 2023.

The bench held, "Justice Sheo Kumar Singh shall continue to remain in office subject to his consent for continuance."

Meanwhile, the Additional Solicitor General Balbir Singh placed a note before the bench. It stated:

1. Steps had been initiated for the selection of the judicial members;

2. An advertisement was published in a national daily on 16 December 2022 and the last date for receiving applications was 12 January 2023.

The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 provides that the tribunal shall not consist of less than 10 members. It was subject to a maximum of 20 full-time judicial members and the same number of expert members.