NGT: Only English to be used in proceedings

New Delhi: Prohibiting use of Hindi during its proceedings, the National Green Tribunal has made it clear that a litigant, who appears before it as party-in-person, must submit documents in English only.

The green panel said that according to Rule 33 of the NGT (practice and procedure) Rules, 2011, the proceedings of the tribunal have to be conducted only in English.

The clarification came while hearing a review plea filed by Ojasvi Party seeking restoration of its earlier petition which was dismissed by NGT for not submitting English translation of documents.

“The plea submits that the applicants were under delusion that Hindi being the national language, the tribunal must entertain the applications moved in Hindi. However, now his delusion is removed and he understands that business of the tribunal has to be conducted in English as per Rule 33 of the NGT (practice and procedure) Rules, 2011. “Considering these submissions and the record before us, which reveals that the English version of original appeal was filed on September 24, 2015, we allow this application and restore the application to the file. However, all the applications moved therein in Hindi without there being English translation on record, would stand dismissed,” a bench headed by Justice UD Salvi said.

The religious grouping had approached the tribunal in 2015 against pollution caused in River Yamuna due to slaughtering of cattle.