National Environmental Appellate Authority, Environmental Tribunal and Green Benches

National Environmental Appellate Authority Act, 1997
What is the purpose with which the National Environmental Appellate Authority Act 1997 has been enacted?
The National Environmental Appellate Authority Act has been brought with the purpose of providing for the establishment of a National Environmental Appellate Authority to hear appeals with respect to restriction of areas in which any industries, operations or processes or class of industries, operations or processes shall not be carried out or shall be carried out subject to certain safeguards under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

What is the uniqueness of National Environmental Appellate Authority in dealing with appeals before them?
According to Section 12 of the Act the Authority shall not be bound by the procedure laid down in the code of civil procedure, 1908, but shall be guided by the principles of natural justice. Subject to the other provisions of this Act and of any rules made by Central Government, the Authority shall have power to regulate its own procedure, including the fixing of places and times of its enquiry and deciding whether to sit in public or private. Also, with the effect from the date of establishment of the Authority, no civil court or other authority shall have jurisdiction to entertain any appeal in respect of any matter with which the Authority is empowered by or under this Act.

National Environmental Tribunal Act, 1995
What are the objectives with which the National Environmental Tribunal Act, 1995 has been enacted?
The National Environmental Tribunal Act has been enacted to provide for strict liability for damages arising out of any accident occurring while handling any hazardous substance and for the establishment of a National Environment Tribunal for effective and expeditious disposal of cases arising from such accidents, with a view to giving relief and compensation for damages to persons, property and the environment and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. The Act has not yet been brought into force.

Green Benches
What are Green benches?
Green benches are those constituted by the Chief Justice of the respective High Courts either on their own or on directions from the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to constitute exclusively a bench (quorum consisting of more than one Judge) to deal with matters relating to environment and connected there with. The Green Bench in the respective High Courts deals with matters relating to Environment either on a particular day of the week exclusively or when and where the situation demands immediate action. West Bengal and Tamilnadu are examples of some states which have constituted Green Benches.