The West Bengal Government on Wednesday assured a Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court that land distribution at Singur would not begin before Thursday.

The assurance came on the back of the Bench's observation that the hearing of an appeal petition filed by Tata Motors should begin on Thursday — a day after the expiry of the existing stay on Wednesday.

Tata Motors filed a petition before the Division Bench challenging the September 28 verdict of Mr Justice I.P. Mukerji of the Calcutta High Court upholding the “acquisition” of the Nano plant site by the State Government under the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act, 2011.

To give a chance to appeal against the verdict, the Judge had also ordered a “stay” till November 2.

The State Government is “unlikely to do anything” (land distribution) in the next 24 hours, the Division Bench, comprising Mr Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Mr Justice Mrinal Kanti Chaudhuri, observed on Wednesday against concerns expressed by Tata counsel.

Tata Motors' plea could not be heard today, as the appeal petition was not listed for hearing for the day.