Published on: 11 July 2023 at 16:55 IST
The Supreme Court has put a hold on the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) decision to appoint Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena as the chairperson of a high-level committee for the Yamuna rejuvenation project. The Delhi government challenged the NGT’s order from January 9, 2023, stating that it violated the constitutional framework of governance and two previous Supreme Court orders from 2018 and 2023.
The NGT had established the committee earlier this year to address the issue of Yamuna river pollution. The government argued that granting executive powers to the LG encroached upon the jurisdiction of the elected government and that the Chief Minister should oversee the matter of pollution control in the Yamuna river.
The NGT’s order was in response to a petition filed by Ashwani Yadav, drawing attention to the escalating pollution in the Yamuna river and the authorities’ failure to take remedial measures.