Singur row: Setback for Mamata as HC declares land act void

The land at Singur,which the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act 2011 sought to reclaim,was one of Banerjee8217;s first major move after she became chief minister last year empowering her government to take back 400 acres of land from Tata Motors for the Nano small car project.

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A number of farmers had not accepted the compensation for their land at Singur. The Trinamool Congress chief had promised to return their land to them.

It was also part of her campaign ahead of the assembly elections in the state,which she won with a landslide ending three decades of Marxist rule.

A division bench comprising Justices Pinaki Chandra Ghosh and Mrinal Kanti Chaudhury,on an appeal by Tata Motors Ltd,observed that President8217;s assent had not been taken for the Act and as such it was void and unconstitutional.

The court also observed that what was done in Singur was acquisition of land by the said Act and as such it was void.

The implementation of the order was,however,stayed for two months by the division bench to allow the aggrieved party to appeal to the Supreme Court.

The division bench set aside the order of Justice I P Mukerji who had held the Act to be constitutional.

Banerjee said she will continue to fight for t he cause of the farmers. The state has decided to appeal against the verdict in the Supreme Court.

In Mumbai,a Tata Motors Spokesperson said 8220;Tata Motors will study the judgement of the Calcutta High Court.8221;

Counsel for the West Bengal government Kalyan Bandyopadhyay,who is also a Trinamool Congress MP,said an appeal will be filed in the Supreme Court after going through the judgement.

The Chief Minister wrote on her Facebook page shortly afterwards,8221;I have no comments to offer on Singur Verdict.

8220;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 people8217;s choice in democracy will prevail,8221; Banerjee wrote.

Earlier,Banerjee told reporters in the assembly premises,8221;unwilling farmers in Singur will get back their

land. The state government is committed to it. We are with them and we will continue to be with them. They will emerge victorious in the end8221;.

Commerce and Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee said,8221;We have not received the copy of the court verdict. The state government will take action only after getting it.8221;

Recalling that the Trinamool Congress chief had observed a 26-day fast in Singur to protect the interests of farmers,Chatterjee said,8221;We were with them,we are with them and we will be with them. We are committed to protect their interest.8221;

Leader of the Opposition and CPIM leader Surya Kanta Mishra said the high court verdict had vindicated the party8217;s stand.

8220;We have been saying that the bill was unconstitutional and we had offered to give several suggestions to the government on how to go about it,8221; he said.