The National Environment Tribunal Act, 1995 provides for strict liability for damages arising out of any accident occurring while handling any hazardous substance and for the establishment of a National Environment Tribunal for effective and expeditious disposal of cases arising from such accident, with a view to giving relief and compensation for damages to persons, property and the environment and for connected or incidental matters. This act was legislated to implement the decisions taken at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held at Rio de Janeiro in June, 1992, calling upon the States to develop national laws regarding liability and compensation for the victims of pollution and other environmental damages. The act provides that in case of any death of, or injury to, any person (other than a workman) or damage to any property or environment has resulted 'from an accident, the owner shall be liable to pay compensation for such death, injury or damage under all or any of the heads specified in the Schedule under the act. It has also been laid down that in any claim for compensation, the claimant shall not be required to plead and establish that the death, injury or damage in respect of which the claim has been made was due to any wrongful act, neglect or default of any person.
