The Calcutta High Court has ruled against the Union government's objections to petitions regarding the ₹92,000 crore (approximately $11 billion USD) Great Nicobar Island project, which is alleged to violate the Forest Rights Act. The petitions were filed by Meena Gupta, a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, who argues that the project lacks proper consent from the local tribal communities. The court has scheduled a hearing for June 23, 2026. The government contends that the project is of 'great national importance' and should not be questioned in public interest litigation. However, the court emphasized that significant projects must comply with existing laws and are subject to judicial review. Additionally, Gupta's petitions challenge the validity of the Gram Sabha resolutions that purportedly consented to the diversion of forest land, raising doubts about the process followed by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration. The Tribal Council representing the Nicobarese and Shompen tribes has also expressed concerns over the project, claiming that their rights have not been adequately addressed.