Calcutta HC grants continuation of stay of Singur Act

Kolkata, Nov 3: The Calcutta High Court today (Nov 3) granted continuation of the stay of the trial court order validating the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act which has been challenged by the Tatas.

A division bench of justices Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Mrinal Kanti Chaudhuri passed the order granting continuation of the stay till disposal of the appeal. On September 28, Justice I P Mukherjee while validating the Singur Act had stayed the operation of the order till November two so that any aggrieved party was able to file an appeal.

While Kalyan Bandopadhyay appearing on behalf of the West Bengal government prayed that the stay be restricted to 645 acres of leased out land to the Tatas, the division bench rejected the appeal and said that stay would be applicable to the entire 997 acres.

Tata Motors had moved the division bench challenging the order of the trial court, praying for continuation of the stay of the operation of the judgement and also the validity of the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act, 2011. The legislation provided for return of 400 acres of land to unwilling farmers who had given their holding for Tata Motor's Nano car project at Singur in Hooghly district.

PTI