India, Oct. 30 -- The Centre has opposed a plea by four Nicobarese tribal representatives to join a case challenging the recognition of forest rights on Great Nicobar Island, telling the Calcutta high court that they are not "necessary or proper parties" and have approached the court after an unexplained delay.

The dispute concerns the validity of the process through which forest rights were recognised in 2022, paving the way for the Centre's Rs.81,000-crore Great Nicobar Island development project.

"The applicants bypassed statutory remedies under FRA (Forest Rights Act) and cannot seek party status after a gross delay (nearly four years from the certificate and two years after the writ petition," the Ministry of tribal affairs has sai...