Top 10 FactsEdited by Surabhi Malik, Mala das | Updated: June 22, 2012 15:17 IST
One of Ms Banerjee's first big moves after she was made Chief Minister last year was to pass the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act 2011.That empowered her government to reclaim 400 acres of land from Tata Motors.
In 2007, the Left Front, which was then in power, leased 997 acres at Singur to Tata Motors for a factory to produce India's cheapest car, the Nano.
The land was acquired from 13,000 owners, but 2000 of them did not accept compensation for their 400 acres of land.
Mamata Banerjee had promised to return their land to them - this was a major part of her campaign ahead of the Bengal elections, which she won with a landslide. The Left was booted out after more than 30 years in power.
The Calcutta High Court has over-ruled an earlier verdict in September that said the Singur Act was constitutionally valid.
Today's judgement says that the President's assent was not taken for the Act, making it void and unconstitutional.
The High Court says the judgement will remain suspended for two months, allowing the government to appeal against the order. The court has also said land cannot be recovered for now by the Bengal government.
After the court verdict, Ms Banerjee said her government "is committed to returning land to unwilling farmers." "We were with the farmers, are with the farmers and will be with them. Law will take its own course. And I feel finally farmers will win," she added.
On Facebook, the Chief Minister said, "I have no comments to offer on Singur verdict. Throughout my life, I have struggled for the cause of the farmers, working class, poor and under-privileged. Our commitment to be with them will remain, whether I am in power or not. I will continue to fight for this cause. Finally, the people's choice in democracy will prevail."
Tata Motors pulled out of Singur in October 2008 and moved their Nano project to Gujarat. The company invested over 1500 crores in Singur and wants compensation.
| For NDTV Updates, |
|
 |
|
|
NDTV Classics: Getting away with rape
Unwed teen mothers, sometimes forced to live near the men who raped them (Aired: Sept 2006)
A rape survivor's brave journey
14 months after being raped in Kolkata, she now counsels others like her. “A two way street,” she calls it
Endgame Afganistan: Talking to the Taliban
“If foreign forces don’t exit, there will be civil war,” says a former Taliban leader
New York's 'candy cab', in the memory of a lost son
Mansoor Khalid's son died at just 18 months
Cannes 2013: Ooh la la, here's Ash
Three fantastic outfits later, she’s put Sonam and Vidya firmly in the shade
Felt special to be on stage with Big B: Vidya
And she’s honoured to be on the same jury as Spielberg, Ang Lee
Sonam, Vidya get a thumbs up from Ritu Beri
Designer hails the actresses’ sari and lehenga choices on the French Riviera
Not competing with mom Sharmila: Soha
She’s not interested in starring in a remake of one of her mother’s films
Like wine, my friendship with Ranbir gets better with age: Deepika
Ranbir admits others find it weird he’s so comfortable with her
Won't do Munnabhai film without Sanjay Dutt: Arshad Warsi
Circuit remains loyal
Cannes fashion police
Mughal-E-Azam Vidya vs elegant Sonam vs only-slightly-less- racy Mallika
Sonam blooms at Cannes on day 2
Dramatic Dolce & Gabbana outshines Vidya's Sabyasachi and nose ring
Vidya blows a French kiss in Sabysachi at Cannes
Wore her desi heart on her sleeve with a bindi and pallu over her head
On set, average age is 25 and I am 71: Big B
Tells NDTV at Cannes he often thinks "what the heck am I doing here" on shoots
Big B says namaste at Cannes
Opened festival in "the music of the Hindi language"
Sonam stuns Cannes with old-world glamour
Gets sari + jacket right, unlike Aishwarya
Become friends with your favourite NDTV people and shows. Start now »
