The Supreme Court closed its 2021 suo motu case on polluted rivers, observing that the matter should have been handled by the NGT to avoid overlapping proceedings. The Court stressed that environmental monitoring must continue before the tribunal, with scope for judicial review.
On Wednesday (24th April): The National Green Tribunal (NGT) criticized the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for not taking action against environmental offenders, stating that it encourages violations of environmental laws. The NGT emphasized that revenue from environmental crimes qualifies as ‘proceeds of crime’ under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), directing the compensation to be used for environmental restoration in affected areas.
