The Calcutta High Court, on Monday, turned down Tata Motors' plea to pass an interim order restraining the West Bengal Government from “distributing” the vested ‘Nano' project land.

The application was made in addition to the company's June 22 petition, contesting the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act, 2011 and seeking status quo ante and an injunction on enforcing the Singur Act.

As a second attempt, the company today sought the permission of the Division Bench to move a similar appeal based on oral submission. However, the two-judge Bench agreed to hear only a written petition with notices duly served to the State. No such petition was moved to the Division Bench during the day. Meanwhile, the State filed a caveat before the Supreme Court, to ensure that no petition filed by the company is heard ex-parte. “There is a possibility that having failed to get any interim order at the High Court, the Tatas may move the Supreme Court,” Mr Abhijit Sengupta, standing counsel of West Bengal, told Business Line.

Apprehensions

Earlier this morning, Tata Motors counsel, Mr Samaraditya Pal, pleaded that the Government had “ridiculed” the court by forming an empowered committee on Friday and subsequently receiving applications for distributing land on Sunday.

The company expressed apprehensions that the Government may start distributing land any moment and pleaded that unless an interim order was passed its writ-petition could prove in fructuous. To this point, Mr Justice Soumitra Pal wanted the Advocate-General, Mr Aninda Mitra, to clarify if the State was expected to effect distribution in the next two days when he will be hearing the initial submissions of all concerned.

Mr Mitra said that the State would follow the “rule” and would accept applications for distribution of land for a month.

Though Tata Motors countered that the said rule did not put any embargo on starting distribution during the 30-day period, the Judge held that “no specific statement has been made (by the petitioner) that the process land distribution has started,” and did not pass an interim order.

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