Justice Jawad Rahim appointed as acting Chairperson of NGT

The Supreme Court on March 27, 2018 appointed Justice Jawad Rahim as the acting Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

Justice Rahim is also the judicial member of the green panel. His appointment was approved by a bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud.

Justice Rahim will discharge his duties until a regular appointment is made and will take part in selection process of other members of the NGT.

However, the bench clarified that the appointment of Justice Rahim is an interim arrangement and should not be interpreted as a final determination of the seniority between Justice Rahim and Justice R S Rathore.

Plea of the NGT Bar Association

The Supreme Court’s decision came on a plea stating that due to the non-appointment of chairperson at the NGT, selection process to fill up the vacancies in the green tribunal has been stalled. The plea was filed by the NGT Bar Association.

The appointment of NGT's interim Chairperson would now enable the constitution of the NGT bench for western zone in Pune. There are 500 cases pending in the western zone bench of the NGT.