1. Right to healthy environment, construed as a part of Right to life under Article 21.
2. Provision of grants for raising the level of administration in the Scheduled Areas for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes under Article 275(1).
3. Powers and functions of Gram Sabha as mentioned under Article 243(A).
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Explanation
National Green Tribunal (NGT) Act, 2010 aims at efficient & quick resolution of environmental disputes (within 6 months of appeal) in order to lessen the burden of litigation in the higher courts. The Act established National-Green Tribunal with jurisdiction over all civil cases involving substantial questions relating to the environment. Tribunal is guided by principles of natural justice & its order is executable as a decree of a civil court. Although the NGT’s orders are final, they may be contested in the SC within 90 days.
Statement 1 is correct: The NGT Act is grounded in the fundamental right to a clean and healthy environment, which is integral to the Right to Life under Article 21. Landmark judgments, such as Subhash Kumar v. State of Bihar (1991) and M.C. Mehta cases, have expanded the interpretation of Article 21 to include environmental protection. Statements 2 and 3 are incorrect: Provisions mentioned in statements 2 and 3 have no bearing upon National-Green Tribunal:
Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India guarantees grants-in-aid from the Consolidated Fund of India each year for promoting the welfare of Scheduled Tribes. Infrastructure development schemes like protected drinking water, road connectivity, electricity and housing are provided under this scheme. 243A provides that a Gram Sabha may exercise such powers and perform such functions at the village level as the Legislature of a State may, by law, provide.