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National
Centre tells Calcutta HC Nicobarese leaders not proper parties in forest rights case
✍️ Hindustan Times
🗓 30 Oct 2026, 11:55 AM
👁 1
The Union Government has argued before the Calcutta High Court that Nicobarese tribal leaders are not necessary or proper parties in the ongoing litigation regarding forest rights recognition.
The Union Government has submitted a legal argument to the Calcutta High Court stating that tribal leaders from the Nicobar Islands are not 'necessary or proper parties' in the current dispute over forest rights. This legal stance is central to the validity of the process through which forest rights were recognized in the region.
The court is currently examining the procedural aspects of how these rights were granted, a decision that has significant implications for the Central Government's plans. The outcome of this case is directly linked to the administrative and legal groundwork for major infrastructure development in the area.
This legal battle paves the way for the Centre’s ambitious Great Nicobar project, which is estimated at ₹81,000 crore. The government's position suggests that the specific tribal leaders involved in the petition do not have the standing to challenge the broader recognition process in this particular judicial forum.
The High Court will now consider these submissions as it deliberates on the legality of the forest rights recognition, a critical step before the massive development project can proceed without further legal hurdles.
The court is currently examining the procedural aspects of how these rights were granted, a decision that has significant implications for the Central Government's plans. The outcome of this case is directly linked to the administrative and legal groundwork for major infrastructure development in the area.
This legal battle paves the way for the Centre’s ambitious Great Nicobar project, which is estimated at ₹81,000 crore. The government's position suggests that the specific tribal leaders involved in the petition do not have the standing to challenge the broader recognition process in this particular judicial forum.
The High Court will now consider these submissions as it deliberates on the legality of the forest rights recognition, a critical step before the massive development project can proceed without further legal hurdles.