Taking steps to ensure lawyers are present: MoEF assures NGT

The Ministry of Environment and Forests today assured the National Green Tribunal that it was taking effective steps to ensure that it is represented in cases before it and was given the "last opportunity" by the green panel to resolve the issue.
The Joint Secretary, MoEF, appeared before the tribunal today complying with its December 10, 2013 order in which it warned the Ministry that there would be "serious consequences" if its lawyers continue to be absent from cases.
In view of the assurance given by the ministry, a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said that at this stage it does not wish to take any further action against the MoEF and gave it a "last opportunity" to resolve the issue of its counsel being not present in cases where it is a party.

"The Joint Secretary from the Ministry is present. He assures the tribunal that immediately effective steps will be taken to ensure appearance of the duly instructed counsel who would be able to assist the tribunal appropriately in future in every case in which MoEF is a party. In view of this we would not wish to take any further action at this stage," the bench said.
The tribunal directed the official to ensure that its lawyers are properly instructed/briefed and are provided all the case material needed for them to argue their matter.
The tribunal had made the observations after no counsel appeared for the MoEF in a couple of new matters, including one opposing the clearance granted for expansion of Akshardham Temple here.

Earlier too, the ministry had assured the NGT that its counsel would be present in cases where it is a party, but the ministry was unrepresented in several cases and these had to be adjourned.