Justice Prakash Shrivastava assumes charge as new Chairperson of NGT

New Delhi [India], August 24 (ANI): Justice Prakash Shrivastava, former Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court on Wednesday assumed charge as the new Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
After taking charge, Justice Shrivastava said, "Right to healthy environment has been construed as a part of right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution. The powers which have been conferred upon NGT are very wide. Greater the power, greater is the responsibility to ensure that powers are being used and utilised for achieving the object and purpose of the Act."
The environmental issues mainly arise on account of the conflict between the developmental activities and their adverse impact on environment. Hence, a balance approach is required to ensure sustainable development.
"As Chairman of the NGT, my effort will be to consider the issues raised before the Tribunal in such a manner that the object with which the Tribunal has been constituted is fully achieved," he added
Earlier on July 6, 2023, the Union Government had appointed Justice Sheo Kumar Singh as the Acting Chairperson of the NGT on the retirement of Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel.
Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel who had taken over National Green Tribunal as Chairperson on July 6, 2018 completed his tenure of 5 years.
During his period of 5 years, Justice Goel brought in several innovative and people-friendly methods for providing justice in the area of the environment
Justice Prakash Shrivastava was born on March 31, 1961. He was enrolled as an advocate on February 2, 1987 and focused his practice in the field of Taxation Law, Civil Law and Constitutional Law in the Supreme Court of India.
Justice Prakash Shrivastava was appointed as a Judge of Madhya Pradesh High Court on January 18, 2008 and became Permanent Judge on January 15, 2010.
On July 6, 2015, he was appointed as the Commissioner for the Welfare of the Victims of the Bhopal Gas Leak Disaster for a period of one year by the Central Government.
Justice Shrivastava was sworn in as the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court on October 11, 2021 and the oath was administered by the then Governor Jagdeep Dhankar at the Calcutta High Court. (ANI)