Tribal Leaders Not Required

Tribal Affairs Ministry says Nicobarese leaders are not necessary parties in court case challenging forest rights settlement on Great Nicobar Island.

“neither necessary nor proper parties”

Petition Challenges Forest Rights

Former IAS officer Meena Gupta filed a petition in Calcutta High Court challenging Union government's claim that forest rights under the Forest Rights Act were settled on Great Nicobar Island.

Nicobarese Displaced by Tsunami

Nicobarese were displaced by 2004 tsunami and seek return to ancestral villages after land diversion for development project.

Tribal Consent Disputed

Tribal leaders argue government certifications falsely claim gram sabha consent from non-tribal communities for forest land diversion.

“This certificate falsely states that the concerned Gram Sabhas have consented to the diversion of forest lands and cites meetings of the Gram Sabhas of the settler community in which no Nicobarese were present”

Government Claims FRA Settled

Government claims forest rights were settled on Great Nicobar Island through gram sabha consent from non-tribal communities.

“deserves outright rejection”

Tribal Rights Specialist

Policy analyst says Tribal Affairs Ministry contradicts its own beneficiaries by rejecting tribal leaders' participation in FRA process.

“go so starkly against its own beneficiaries”

FRA Process Timeline

Sub-Divisional Level Committee held special gram sabha meeting on August 12, 2022, approving 166 sq km forest land diversion for Great Nicobar project.

“unanimously resolved”

No Objection Certificate Withdrawn

Tribal chief Barnabas Manju withdrew No Objection Certificate for land diversion after realizing it did not represent tribal consent.

“withdrew consent for the NOC”

FRA Process Concerns

Tribal leaders claim government process failed to include them in gram sabha meetings, making forest rights settlement claims false.

“he was not given adequate facts to make an informed decision”

Draft Plan Shows Pending FRA

Tribal Welfare Plan draft indicates land survey and FRA clearance are pending for first six months of implementation.

“land survey and FRA clearance”

Court Case Status

Calcutta High Court scheduled next hearing for November 25 and 26, 2026.