SC verdict on Singur land acquisition is a landmark victory: Mamata Banerjee

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Supreme Court verdict on Singur land acquisition is a landmark victory, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday.

She further said that the state government will hold strategy meeting tomorrow as to how to implement SC verdict.

"We waited for ten years for this judgement. It is victory of the farmers", Mamata Banerjee said.

Will work out a mechanism to return land to the farmers, Mamata added.

In a set back to the Tatas, the Supreme Court earlier today set aside the land acquired by the previous Left Front government in West Bengal for the Nano car plant, saying due processes and procedures were not followed.

The land was acquired in 2006 for the car project, which was vehemently protested by the Trinamool Congress -- currently in power in the state with Mamata Banerjee as Chief Minisiter. Eventually, the project was shifted to Sanad in Gujarat.

The apex court bench of Justice V. Gopal Gowda and Justice Arun Mishra also said that all those farmers who have taken the compensation in lieu of the acquisition need not return it as they have been deprived of their lands and its fruits for last 10 years.

The court also said those farmers who had not taken the compensation may withdraw it and that land be returned to the owners within 12 weeks.

While agreeing on the quashing of the acquisition, allowing farmers to retain the amount of compensation and directing that the land be returned in 12 weeks, both Justice Gowda and Justice Mishra gave different reasons.

With Agency Inputs