SC quashes Singur land acquisition for Tata's Nano plant

The Supreme Court has quashed the acquisition of agricultural land for Tata Motors’ plant in Singur town of West Bengal. The earlier Left Front government in the State had acquired 997 acres of land in 2006 for setting up Tata Motors' Nano car manufacturing plant.

The apex court termed as illegal and void the acquisition of land. It ordered restoration of the land to farmers who will retain the compensation received. The court said the state government cannot claim back the amount of compensation



as it had enjoyed the right over the acquired land for ten years.

Finding fault with the land acquisition process, the Supreme Court said that the acquired land be returned to the cultivators within 12 weeks. The court, in its judgment, said land acquisition collector has not properly conducted the inquiry into the complaints of cultivators with regard to acquisition of plots. It held that the acquisition of land by the State for a company does not fall under the purview of public purpose.