WB govt asked to file affidavit on Singur

Asking the state government to submit its objections through an affidavit in response to the petition of Tata Motors, Justice Saumitra Pal also directed the auto major to file a reply to that by July 12. Hearing on the main petition challenging the Singur Act will be held on July 14, Justice Pal said.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the state government not to proceed with the proposed return of land to farmers in Singur until further orders by the High Court. A vacation bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justices P Sathasivam an A K Patnaik, said they were passing a “limited interim order” and the main matter against the state government on the issue of possession and distribution of land to original owners was pending before the  High Court.

The state government led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier brought an ordinance to reclaim land at Singur. “We’ve passed an ordinance as it was a very urgent one. The governor has signed it some time back. Through the ordinance we are keen to return 400 acres of land to the farmers. The government had taken this resolution more than a month back,” Banerjee reiterated here on Thursday.

The ordinance allowed the state government to take-over the 997.11 acres of land lying with the Tatas and vendors in Singur which it wants to return to the disgruntled farmers.