HC public service poser

Calcutta High Court today asked the state government to clarify whether returning of the Singur land to “unwilling” farmers could be considered a “public service”.

Justice I.P. Mukerji told state advocate-general Anindya Mitra that Tata Motors counsel Samaraditya Pal had claimed that land could not be taken back from his client unless it was for a public service.

“Since the main purpose of enacting the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act, 2011, was to return land to the unwilling farmers, you will have to clarify whether returning of land to farmers is a public service,” Justice Mukerji told Mitra.

Mitra replied: “Of course, returning land to unwilling farmers can be considered a public service. In the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, there was no provision for farmers to defy the state government’s decision. But now, times have changed. The views of farmers on acquisition of their land will have to be considered.”

The advocate-general also claimed that there was another public purpose behind the enactment of the Singur legislation. “The government had decided to hand over the rest of the land (600 acres of the 997 acquired for the Nano project, 400 acres being taken over forcibly) to any company for setting up a project. Even Tata Motors can come forward.”