Gram Sabhas that gave nod to Great Nicobar project did not have mandatory 50% quorum

📌 Summary:

• The Andaman & Nicobar Islands (A&NI) administration has admitted in the Calcutta High Court that Gram Sabha meetings held to obtain consent for the Rs 92,000-crore Great Nicobar Island project did not achieve the mandatory 50% quorum required under the Forest Rights Act (FRA)

• Instead, the administration claimed attendance of only 2%–15% of the population counted as "proper quorum" — a legally untenable position

• FRA quorum requirement: Central government rules for FRA implementation require that at least one-half (50%) of the adult population of the village be present at Gram Sabha meetings, of which one-third must be women

• What happened: Three Gram Sabha meetings were held for Campbell Bay, Laxmi Nagar, and Govind Nagar Gram Panchayats (covering 7 villages) — all completed within half an hour; administration argued SDLC (Sub-Divisional Level Committee) acceptance of the resolution compensated for quorum deficit

• Additional irregularities: Petitioner's affidavit noted that dozens of names appeared in all three Gram Sabha meetings, and in some cases the same name was repeated in the same Gram Sabha's attendance list — suggesting fabricated attendance

• Tribal representation issue: Nicobarese and Shompen tribal communities are not covered under Gram Sabha structure; they are represented through the Tribal Council, which should have been the body consulted for consent — but was not

• Calcutta HC hearing: Court took up these submissions on May 6; petitions challenge both Gram Sabha resolutions and the constitution of the SDLC

• Project background: Great Nicobar Island development project (Rs 92,000 crore) involves port, township, airport, and power plant on a sensitive island near the Malacca Strait; raises serious environment and tribal rights concerns

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 — Governance & Polity | Forest Rights Act; tribal consent; Gram Sabha powers; Panchayati Raj; GS3 — Environment (EIA process, coastal development)

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006: recognises rights of forest-dwelling STs and other traditional forest dwellers; requires Gram Sabha consent for diversion of forest land

• Gram Sabha quorum under FRA rules: 50% adult population + 1/3 women mandatory

• Great Nicobar Island project cost: Rs 92,000 crore

• Shompen tribe: particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) of Great Nicobar Island; among India's most isolated tribes

• SDLC = Sub-Divisional Level Committee (reviews FRA claims and resolutions)

🔑 Key Term: Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) — The principle that indigenous/tribal communities must be consulted and give consent before any project affecting their land and forests is approved; Gram Sabha under FRA is the institutional mechanism for obtaining this consent in India