The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had, in an earlier order, banned the chairmen of 10 State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB) on the grounds that the chairmen were not appointed as per the guidelines laid down by the court.

The governments of Maharashtra and Rajasthan have moved the Supreme Court against this direction of the NGT and the case has come up before the bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Sanjay Kishan Kaul.

The NGT guidelines, issued earlier, state that nominations should be sent of such persons who have “special knowledge, practical experience or qualification in environment protection studies.” The guidelines also said that appointments should not be on the ground of their association with the respective state governments.

On June 19, Additional Solicitor General Narasimha, appearing for Rajasthan, said that the chairman was an IAS officer and an ex-collector. How can the tribunal say that he is not competent? How can such an interim order be passed?

The apex court bench opened it up for all state PCBs and wanted to see the profiles of the respective chairmen.

However, the profile of functionaries of Maharashtra SPCB was not available and the Rajasthan petition was not numbered. Hence the bench refused to issue notice and directed the matter to be listed after vacation.

  —India Legal Bureau