Supreme Court Dismisses Centre's Plea Against Great Nicobar Project PILs
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain the Centre's plea challenging the Calcutta High Court's order that upheld the maintainability of public interest litigations (PILs) alleging violations of the Forest Rights Act in obtaining consent for the Great Nicobar Island mega-infrastructure project. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana dismissed the Centre's plea, noting that the matter is already pending before the high court and scheduled for hearing on November 25 and 26.
During arguments, Attorney General R Venkataramani contended that the issue was of "great national importance" and questioned the PIL's maintainability. He highlighted that environmental clearance for the project had already been challenged before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and expressed concern over multiple proceedings being initiated subsequently. Venkataramani argued that the question of maintainability went to the root of the matter and requested further submissions on the issue. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati noted that NGT proceedings concerning environmental clearance had already seen two rounds.
Senior advocate S Muralidhar, appearing for a tribal council impleaded in the matter, submitted that the issue concerns Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG), making a Public Interest Litigation maintainable. The Supreme Court directed the high court to hear all pending petitions on the date fixed.
