Calcutta High Court Upholds Maintainability of PILs Challenging Great Nicobar Project

The Calcutta High Court rejected the Union Government's objection regarding the maintainability of Public Interest Litigations (PILs) challenging the ₹72,000 crore Great Nicobar infrastructure project.

The Centre argued that the petitioner, a Hyderabad resident, lacked locus standi, however, the bench ruled that courts must permit genuine public causes concerning vulnerable communities.

The Court noted that the tribal populations in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are "very vulnerable" and may be unable to approach the Court themselves.

The bench further clarified that massive expenditure or national importance does not exempt a project from judicial review regarding compliance with the Forest Rights Act and environmental laws.