Calcutta HC to hear PILs on Great Nicobar Project
Why in News
Calcutta High Court's Port Blair bench will hear PILs challenging the Great Nicobar megaproject, citing Forest Rights Act violations and buffer zone reduction. The court rejected the government's 'locus standi' argument.
Background
Judicial intervention ensures environmental and tribal rights safeguards under FRA 2006 are upheld against large infrastructure projects, reinforcing constitutional principles of justice and equity.
Key Figure
No significant data reported.
Key Facts
- 1Calcutta High Court: jurisdiction over West Bengal and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
- 2Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006: recognizes historical rights of forest dwellers and Scheduled Tribes over forest resources.
- 3National Green Tribunal (NGT) Act 2010: established NGT for effective and expeditious disposal of environmental cases.
- 4Public Interest Litigation (PIL): evolved through judicial activism, allows public-spirited citizens to seek redress for public wrongs.
- 5Great Nicobar Island: southernmost island of Nicobar Islands, part of Andaman & Nicobar UT.
- 6Shompen and Nicobarese: Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) residing in Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
- 7Locus Standi: legal right to bring an action or to appear in court; government's plea on this was rejected.
Exam Angle
The judicial scrutiny of the Great Nicobar project underscores the critical role of environmental governance and the implementation of tribal rights laws in balancing developmental aspirations with ecological conservation and social justice.
PYQ Connection
PRELIMS_FACT|ASSERTION_REASON: Forest Rights Act (year, provisions), NGT (establishment, mandate), PIL (concept, evolution), Tribes (PVTGs).