In Brief
In this landmark land acquisition case, the Supreme Court quashed the acquisition of approximately 1000 acres in Singur, West Bengal, originally acquired for Tata Motors' small car project. While the Court found the acquisition was initiated for industrial development and employment generation—a legitimate public purpose—it struck down the proceedings for fatal procedural defects. The Collector's inquiry under Section 5-A was found to be a "farce" lacking objective consideration of landowners' objections, and the State Government mechanically endorsed the Collector's report without independent application of mind, in violation of natural justice principles. The Court exercised extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 142 to restore land to original owners and allowed them to retain compensation paid as damages for ten-year deprivation, without remitting the matter for fresh inquiry as the project had been abandoned.
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