Tata Motors Ltd on Thursday told the Calcutta High Court, which began hearing its case afresh, that it had no intention of giving up the land lease at Singur while claiming that the law by which West Bengal government had taken back the land was illegal.
“I want to preserve my lease and possession,” Tata Motors counsel Samaraditya Pal submitted before Justice Indra Prasanna Mukerji who started hearing the matter afresh after the earlier judge recused himself from the case.
Stating that the question of compensation had not been addressed in the Act as it did not quantify the amount, Mr. Pal submitted that the Singur Land and Rehabilitation Act 2011, by which the West Bengal government had taken back the land on June 21, was illegal and that the acquisition was not for public purpose.
Mr. Pal said the state law clashed with the central law.
As land was on the Concurrent List, the President’s assent should have been taken instead of the Governor’s for the Singur Act, he contended.
