New Delhi:
The West Bengal government has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Calcutta High Court order striking down the Singur Land Act, which allows the state government to reclaim 400 acres of land earlier given to Tata Motors.
In its appeal the state government said the purpose of the Act is employment generation, rehabilitation and returning the land to unwilling farmers. It claims the Act doesn't involve land acquisition.
The Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act 2011 empowered the state government to regain 400 acres of land out of the leased 997 acres that was given by the Left Front government to Tata Motors in 2007 for a factory to produce India's cheapest car, the Nano.
Earlier in June, the Calcutta High Court judgement said that the President's assent was not taken for the Act, making it void and unconstitutional. The High Court also said the judgement will remain suspended for two months, allowing the government to appeal against the order.
The land was acquired from 13,000 owners, but 2000 of them did not accept compensation for their 400 acres of land.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier promised to return their land to the unwilling farmers of Singur. In one of her first big moves Ms Banerjee passed the Act. It was a major part of her campaign ahead of the Bengal elections, which she won with a landslide.
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.