KOLKATA: Observing that there was abuse of power by the administration in Hooghly district, the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday set aside prohibitory orders imposed on February 4 for 10 days in the Singur area, where work is on for setting up Tata Motors' car plant.

Home Secretary Prasad Ranjan Roy said the Government would, in view of the court ruling, seek legal advice before it felt the need to re-impose the orders at Singur. He did not agree that there was abuse of power.

"Pre-determined"

Responding to a writ petition challenging the order, Justice Dipankar Datta said the promulgation of orders under Sec. 144 of Cr. PC in the area was pre-determined and an abuse of power. The ingredients for invoking the orders by which the rights of the petitioners had been infringed upon were not satisfying.

The Singur area has been the scene of protests and agitations against the setting up of the plant and the orders had been imposed to prevent outbreak of violence. Prohibitory orders have been imposed for varying periods since late November, the last being for 10 days from February 4.

The petition was filed by a few persons belonging to the Krishi Jami Raksha (Save Farmland) Committee, campaigning against the setting up of the plant on farmland, which was "forcibly acquired." They alleged that the orders had been imposed without considering the welfare of the people.

The orders were first imposed late in November 2006 when Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, spearheading the campaign against the acquisition of farmland for industry, was disallowed by the administration from proceeding to the area.

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