SC orders interim stay on return of Singur land

Parties are directed to cooperate with the High Court for early decision in the main matters.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday restrained the West Bengal government from distributing to farmers in Singur the land it has taken back from Tata Motors until further orders by (Calcutta) High Court.

The vacation Bench of Justices P Sathasivam and A K Patnaik gave the Tatas interim protection which will be in place for some time,but clarified that it was not giving an opinion on the merit of the case,because the main matter challenging the new law in Bengal was pending before the High Court.

We make it clear that this is only an interim arrangement and we have not expressed any opinion on merits of either of the parties. All the parties are directed to cooperate with the High Court for early decision in the main matters. …In view of the urgency expressed by all the parties,we request the High Court to dispose of the main matters as early as possible,preferably within a period of one month, the Bench said.

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In their main petition,the Tatas have challenged in the High Court the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act,2011,enacted for the purpose of taking possession of land acquired for the Tata Nano plant,and distributing it to farmers who had been unwilling to part with it.

Senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi,appearing for the Tatas,argued that his clients had been dispossessed of the land,and had been forced to seek an order that the land should remain with the state government till the issue pending in the High Court was decided.

Senior advocates P P Rao and Kalyan Bandopadhyay,appearing for the West Bengal government,said the land would not be returned to farmers,as the receiving of objections cant be completed before 30 days,as applications have to be scrutinised by a High Court-appointed committee.

To this,the Bench remarked,We take it from you that you are not going to return the land till the High Court passes some order.