India, Feb. 1 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday held that bodies and authorities enforcing environment laws should be accountable, transparent and efficient in their functioning as it issued a slew of directions, including regular audit of their performance towards proper institutionalisation of environmental regulatory bodies and authorities.

A bench headed by justice BR Gavai said, "We seek to emphasise and reiterate the importance of ensuring the effective functioning of these environmental bodies as this is imperative for the protection, restitution and development of the ecology."

The court passed the order while approving the Centre's notification making the expert committee assisting the Supreme Court on environment and forest is...