NGT Act explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
The three Schedules to the NGT Act do practical work. Schedule I lists the seven Acts whose implementation can give rise to a case before the Tribunal. Schedule II lists the heads under which compensation or relief for damage may be claimed. Schedule III records the amendments made in 2010 to other Acts, mainly the appeal sections that send appeals to the Tribunal.
This article is current as amended up to the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021. The Schedules were not changed by that Act. Schedule I may be amended by notification under section 34; later amendments and notifications should be checked. If you are working out whether your matter is within the Tribunal's reach, our legal dispute resolution team can help.
Schedule I names seven Acts: the Water Act, 1974; the Water Cess Act, 1977; the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980; the Air Act, 1981; the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991; and the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. Schedule II lists heads (a) to (n) of compensation or relief, from death and disability to harm to flora and fauna and loss of business. Schedule III inserted the appeal sections in the Water Act (33B), Air Act (31B), EP Act (5A) and other Acts, which are now part of those Acts.
Schedule I: the Acts within the Tribunal's jurisdiction
Schedule I is referred to in sections 14(1), 15(1), 17(1)(a), 17(2), 19(4)(j) and 34(1). It lists:
| No. | Act |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 |
| 2 | The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977 |
| 3 | The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 |
| 4 | The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 |
| 5 | The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 |
| 6 | The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 |
| 7 | The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 |
The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977 was repealed by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 2017; it is still named in the Schedule as printed. The Central Government can add an Act or omit one by notification under section 34, as explained in sections 29 to 38. The Tribunal's jurisdiction under section 14 is over questions that arise out of the implementation of these Acts, and its relief powers under sections 15 and 17 are for damage "arising under the enactments specified in Schedule I".
Schedule II: heads of compensation or relief
Schedule II, referred to in sections 15(4) and 17(1), is headed "Heads under which compensation or relief for damage may be claimed".
| Head | Subject |
|---|---|
| (a) | Death |
| (b) | Permanent, temporary, total or partial disability or other injury or sickness |
| (c) | Loss of wages due to total or partial disability or permanent or temporary disability |
| (d) | Medical expenses incurred for treatment of injuries or sickness |
| (e) | Damages to private property |
| (f) | Expenses incurred by the Government or any local authority in providing relief, aid and rehabilitation to the affected persons |
| (g) | Expenses incurred by the Government for any administrative or legal action or to cope with any harm or damage, including compensation for environmental degradation and restoration of the quality of environment |
| (h) | Loss to the Government or local authority arising out of, or connected with, the activity causing any damage |
| (i) | Claims on account of any harm, damage or destruction to the fauna including milch and draught animals and aquatic fauna |
| (j) | Claims on account of any harm, damage or destruction to flora including aquatic flora, crops, vegetables, trees and orchards |
| (k) | Claims including cost of restoration on account of any harm or damage to environment including pollution of soil, air, water, land and eco-systems |
| (l) | Loss and destruction of any property other than private property |
| (m) | Loss of business or employment or both |
| (n) | Any other claim arising out of, or connected with, any activity of handling of hazardous substance |
The heads are wider than the PLI Act's list in section 3(1), which covers death, medical expenses, loss of wages, other injury or sickness and damage to private property; see sections 3 and 4 of the PLI Act. Schedule II adds Government and local authority expenses, harm to fauna and flora, restoration of the environment, public property and loss of business or employment. Under section 15(4) the Tribunal may divide compensation among these heads, and under section 17(1) the person responsible is liable under "all or any of the heads". The Schedule prints no amount.
Schedule III: amendments to certain enactments
Schedule III, referred to in section 36, amended other Acts with effect from the date the Tribunal was established.
| Part | Act amended | What was inserted or changed |
|---|---|---|
| I | Water Act, 1974 | New section 33B: appeal to the Tribunal against an order of the appellate authority under section 28, an order of the State Government under section 29, or directions of a Board under section 33A |
| II | Water Cess Act, 1977 | Section 13(4) amended; new section 13A: appeal to the Tribunal |
| III | Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 | New section 2A: appeal to the Tribunal |
| IV | Air Act, 1981 | New section 31B: appeal to the Tribunal against an order or decision of the Appellate Authority under section 31 |
| V | Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 | New section 5A: appeal to the Tribunal against directions issued under section 5 |
| VI | Biological Diversity Act, 2002 | Provisos added to section 52 and new section 52A: appeal to the Tribunal |
Those insertions are now part of the Acts they amended. They are explained where this series covers each Act: sections 33 to 33B of the Water Act, sections 31 to 31B of the Air Act and sections 5 and 5A of the EP Act. Each of the inserted sections sends the appeal to the Tribunal "in accordance with the provisions of that Act", so the period and procedure are in the NGT Act.
How the Schedules fit with the sections
| Schedule | Used by | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| I | Sections 14, 15, 17, 19(4)(j), 34 | Defines the Acts within the Tribunal's jurisdiction |
| II | Sections 15(4), 17(1) | Heads for dividing and awarding compensation or relief |
| III | Section 36 | Appeal sections inserted in the scheduled Acts |
Practical points
- Check Schedule I first. A dispute must arise out of one of the listed Acts, as amended by any notification.
- Claim under the right heads. List each loss against the Schedule II head it belongs to.
- Do not overlook public and Government losses. Heads (f), (g), (h) and (l) cover them.
- For appeals, read the inserted appeal section in the scheduled Act together with the NGT Act's period.
An example
A fishing community suffers loss after an effluent discharge under a Water Act consent. It claims under heads (i) harm to aquatic fauna, (m) loss of business or employment, and (k) restoration of the water. The Tribunal, under section 15(4), divides the compensation among these heads.
Need help framing a claim?
A well-framed claim sets each loss against a Schedule II head and ties the case to a Schedule I Act. Our legal dispute resolution team can help you structure the application and the evidence.
Key takeaways
- Schedule I names seven Acts within the Tribunal's jurisdiction, and the Central Government can amend the list by notification.
- Schedule II lists fourteen heads (a) to (n) of compensation or relief, wider than the PLI Act's list.
- Schedule III inserted appeal sections into the Water, Water Cess, Forest (Conservation), Air, EP and Biological Diversity Acts.
- None of the Schedules prints an amount of compensation.
Read next
- Section 14: original jurisdiction
- Sections 15 to 17: relief, compensation and no fault
- Sections 29 to 38: bar of jurisdiction, rules and repeal
- National Green Tribunal Act, 2010: overview
Disclaimer: Based on the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 as amended by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 (in force for these Acts from 1 April 2024), the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 as amended by its Amendment Act of 2024 (which applies only in the States and Union territories it names and in States that adopt it), and the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 as amended by the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021, as consulted on 3 October 2026. Later amendments, rules and notifications should be checked. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.