The National Green Tribunal sits at a Principal Bench in New Delhi and four zonal benches at Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai. Which bench hears your case depends on the state where the cause of action arose.
NGT benches and the states they cover
| Bench | Seat | States and union territories |
|---|---|---|
| NGT Principal Bench, New Delhi (Northern Zone) | Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi | Chandigarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, National Capital Territory of Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand |
| NGT Central Zone Bench, Bhopal | Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh | Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan |
| NGT Western Zone Bench, Pune | Pune, Maharashtra | Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra |
| NGT Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata | Kolkata, West Bengal | Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Sikkim, Tripura, West Bengal |
| NGT Southern Zone Bench, Chennai | Chennai, Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Telangana |
Time limits that apply at every bench
| What you file | Time limit | Extension |
|---|---|---|
| Application on a substantial environmental question (Section 14) | Within 6 months of the date the cause of action first arose | Up to 60 more days for sufficient cause |
| Claim for relief or compensation (Section 15) | Within 5 years of the date the cause first arose | Up to 60 more days for sufficient cause |
| Appeal against an order under a scheduled Act (Section 16) | Within 30 days of the order being communicated | Up to 60 more days for sufficient cause |
| Appeal from the NGT to the Supreme Court (Section 22) | Within 90 days of the NGT order being communicated | The Supreme Court may allow a delayed appeal for sufficient cause |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which NGT bench hears my case?
It depends on where the cause of action arose. Each bench covers a group of states, shown in the table above.
Is there a separate Northern Zone bench?
No. Cases from the northern states are heard by the Principal Bench in New Delhi.
Can a case be moved to another bench?
The Chairperson can transfer cases between benches in some circumstances.
Not sure which bench?
Send us the order or notice. We will tell you the bench and the deadline.
This page gives general information about environmental law as it stood when it was last reviewed. It is not legal advice on your case and does not promise any result. Tribunal procedure, time limits and listing practice change, so check the current position for your matter before acting.
Need help with NGT Zonal Benches?
Send us the notice, the order or a few photos. We'll tell you where you stand, which authority or NGT bench deals with it and when the next step is due, in plain words.
