NGT Suspends Summer Break Amid National Lockdown

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) decided to suspend its summer break this year through a notification. The Summer break was scheduled for the entire month of June, like every other year. The NGT, however, considering the national lockdown issued a notification in order to make up for the loss of time.

The notification read, “The summer vacations for the NGT as scheduled for the month of June 2020, stand cancelled. The NGT would be fully functional for the whole month of June 2020, save for Saturdays, Sundays and Gazetted Holidays. The registry of the National Green Tribunal will remain functional even on Saturdays. However, the notification is subject to further modification.

The notification issued by the tribunal referred to the hardships faced by lawyers and litigants. It takes note of the loss of time caused due to the national lockdown and COVID-19 pandemic. Amid the lockdown, the Tribunal is only hearing extremely urgent matters while the staff continues to work from home.

Moreover, the Delhi High Court has also cancelled its summer vacations and has decided that both the High Court as well as the subordinate courts will remain operational in June. The Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) has also requested the Supreme Court to “partially cancel” the Summer vacations and conduct hearings between the period of May 18, 2020, and June 26, 2020.