Congress says Centre has moved Supreme Court to stay Calcutta High Court hearings on Great Nicobar Island project

30 September 2026

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on 30 September 2026, citing a media report, that the Union government has approached the Supreme Court seeking a stay on proceedings in the Calcutta High Court on petitions challenging the Great Nicobar Island Project.
According to Ramesh, the Calcutta High Court had upheld the right of a petitioner to file her challenge, which the Centre had questioned.
The project includes a proposed transhipment port at Galathea Bay; Ramesh says its cost has been revised upward from Rs 72,000 crore to Rs 92,000 crore.
The Congress argues that the port could cause large-scale ecological damage, including destruction of coral colonies, and one of the petitions concerns violations of the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
Five petitions are pending in the Calcutta High Court; the final hearing in the Forest Rights Act petition is fixed for 25-26 November 2026, Ramesh said.
He said 5 October 2026 is the likely date on which the Supreme Court will hear the Centre's plea.