SC stays return of Tatas’ Singur land to farmers

Bringing some cheer to Tata Motors, the Supreme Court today stayed the return of Singur land to the farmers from whom it was acquired by the West Bengal government. The land had been allocated to the company by the previous government to set up its Nano car project.

Tata Motors moved the apex court after a series of setbacks in the Calcutta high court, which on Monday refused to grant a stay on the state government's decision to return the land to the farmers.

In its interim order, a vacation bench of the Supreme Court comprising justices P Sathasivam and A K Patnaik said the state government will hold the land and maintain status quo till further orders from the Calcutta high court. It directed the parties to argue the merits of the case before the high court.

Tata Motors had filed two special leave petitions requesting the Supreme Court to stay the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act passed by Bengal Assembly after Trinamool Congress came to power.

The state government's counsel clarified before the court that no land had been returned to farmers so far.

While the lawyers of Tata Motors claimed victory saying that the court had provided them complete protection, the state government advocate said the order was not a setback.