It is a quasi-judicial body (like a special court) that deals with cases involving a substantial question relating to the environment. It is of the the level of a high court in the sense that cases currently pending before various high courts are being transferred to the NGT and the cases falling under the jurisdiction of the NGT have been excluded from the jurisdiction of the high courts. Appeals against the orders of the NGT may be made only to the Supreme Court of India. Also, a Judicial Member who has served a high court or Supreme Court judge must sit on every NGT bench.