Singur case (Singur verdict): CPM govt’s acquisition of land for Tata Motors was illegal, says SC. Big setback for Tata’s & CPM’s but a big win for Mamata Banerjee & TMC plus poor farmers.

Singur-West Bengal is another victory of Mamata and TMC as, Hon. Supreme Court says “Singur land acquisition deal for Tata-Nano project was a farce”. It means Mamata Banerjee was right by saying it was a forceful accusation of land by Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Tatas.

The acquisition of ‘fertile multi-crop agricultural land’ by the West Bengal govt in 2006 for Tata Motor’s Nano car project was against the 1894 Land Acquisition Act, says the apex court.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday quashed the acquisition of 997 acres of land by the CPM-led West Bengal government in 2006 for Tata Motors’ Nano car project. This announcement comes as a big set-back for Tata's & CPM’s.

A bench comprising justices V. Gopala Gowda and Arun Mishra said that the acquisition was illegal and void, and failed to meet the requirements under the Land Acquisition Act 1894.

The apex court’s judgement comes as a shot in the arm for Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal, which had brought a law to return the land to the owners.

The Apex court directed the West Bengal government to take possession of the land and distribute it to the land owners within 12 weeks.

It also announced that the farmer's who got compensation from the government will not return it because they were deprived of their livelihood for the last ten years.

The SC also said that Tata had bypassed the rules while acquiring the land.

The bench noted that the entire exercise was done by "bulldozing the law" as the then Cabinet suo motu cleared the allocation of the land identified by the automobile major which was the task of the government of the day.

The bench said it was a farcical exercise through which the land was allocated and it was a "legal mala fide".

-------

Background:  

You may recall that in May 2006, the then CPM government led by Buddhadeb Bhattacharyya announced that Tata would locate their 'Rs 1 lakh' car project — Nano project — in Singur for which some 997 acres of land would be allocated. The land would be acquired for the Tatas by a state industry promotion agency.

Mamata Banerjee then had kicked up a storm and protested the acquisition of the land by industry giants Tata. The farmers, whose land was being acquired by the company, were taking their compensation cheques, however to stop agitation led by the Trinamool Congress, CPM & Tata’s turned violent.

Tata soon started the construction of the plant and amid the agitation released their model Nano car. However, Mamata Banerjee relentlessly protested the acquisition of the land while firmly asserting that her party was not anti-industry and the 400 acres of land belonging to the 'unwilling farmers' should be returned to them. Her "Save Farmland" movement was supported by various environmental activists and intellectuals.

Mamata Banerjee was on 26days hunger strike in protest. Even then Bengal’s Governor wants to settle the issue but arrogant Buddhadeb & Ratan Tata thoughts they are above the law.

------

Supreme Court of India now justified Mamata Banerjee’s Singur Movement (Singoor Andolon) was right and killer Buddhadeb, whose goons grabbed the land for their master Tatas and killed many including brutal rape and killing of Tapasi Malik was wrong.

We strongly believe that now Ratan Tata & Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee should seek unconditional apology from public, farmers & martyr’s family.

Please see other posts in this blog page by clicking "Home" or from "My Favorite Posts" / "Popular Posts" / "Archives" sections, and if any remarks please feel free to post. 
Thanks & Vande Mataram!! Saroop Chattopadhyay.