Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 10 November 2025
The Andaman and Nicobar Administration has invoked the urgency provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (RFCTLARR Act) to acquire 35.05 hectares of private land in Govind Nagar village, Campbell Bay, Great Nicobar.
A formal notification (F. No. 34-725/2021-Rev) issued on 7 November 2025 states that the land is required for the construction of critical military infrastructure, framing the acquisition as essential to national security and defence.
The order specifically cites Section 40 of the RFCTLARR Act — the clause that allows the government to bypass certain procedural requirements when land is urgently needed for defence or national security. In doing so, the Administration has directed that Chapters II and III and Sections 15–18 — covering the Social Impact Assessment (SIA), public consultations, and the formulation and review of rehabilitation and resettlement schemes — will not apply to this acquisition.
Under the notification, the Deputy Commissioner, Nicobar District, has been authorised to take possession of the land 30 days after publication of the notice under Section 21, even if the award has not yet been made. Once possession is taken, the land will vest absolutely in the Government, free from all encumbrances.
The order further clarifies that no additional compensation shall be payable — effectively meaning that the additional 75% urgency amount provided in other cases will not apply to acquisitions for national security or strategic interests. However, base compensation and Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) entitlements under the Act will still be applicable.
Legally, invoking Section 40 enables the government to fast-track possession when land is deemed essential for defence purposes. It does not, however, override the compensation framework that continues to apply under other provisions of the Act. As per Section 40(3), the Collector is required to tender 80% of the estimated compensation to affected landowners before taking possession.
The key point of contention may lie in how compensation is determined and disbursed, and whether landowners find the available remedies under the Act adequate — particularly since the SIA and public consultation processes will not precede possession.
From an administrative standpoint, the move allows for rapid transfer of control, significantly shortening the time between notification and actual takeover. But for the residents and long-established ex-servicemen settlers of Govind Nagar, the acceleration may result in sudden displacement and disruption of livelihoods, with limited opportunity for engagement in pre-acquisition planning or rehabilitation discussions.
The notification must also be viewed in the broader context of Great Nicobar’s strategic transformation. The island, located near vital international sea lanes, has become a focal point for projects blending civilian development with defence imperatives — including proposed airports, ports, and military installations that underscore its growing importance in India’s maritime security framework.
