The Tata Motors-Singur case may come up for hearing before a Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court on November 2 — the last day of the stay granted by a Single Judge Bench of the High Court on September 28 against the proposed distribution of Singur land to unwilling farmers by the West Bengal Government.
The Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, Mr Justice J. N, Patel, on Tuesday re-assigned the Tata Motors petition to the Division Bench of Mr Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Mr Justice Mrinal Kanti Chaudhuri.
Tata Motors challenged a previous verdict by Mr Justice I. P. Mukerji of the Calcutta High Court upholding “acquisition” of the Nano site under the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act, 2011.
May seek extension
It is anticipated that the Tatas will seek an extension of the stay from the Division Bench on Wednesday. Failure to obtain the same may also see the company approaching higher court, as it did in June this year when the Calcutta High Court denied a stay on Singur land distribution.
Incidentally, the case was scheduled to be heard on Tuesday by Mr Justice Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta and Mr Justice Joymalya Bagchi. However, the State Government counsels argued that the assigned Bench did not have “jurisdiction” to hear an appeal challenging a law.