A portion of the abandoned Tata Nano factory in Singur. (File picture)_

New Delhi, Nov. 12: Tata Motors has told the Supreme Court that it has no intention of abandoning the Singur land meant for the Nano car plant and referred to a “second phase” of the project unless the administration shoots down the policy.

The court has decided to hear the matter further in April next year.

The statement by the Tatas and the scheduling of the next hearing mean that the air has been cleared on a court proposal that the company may consider returning the land.

The Tatas’ statement today suggests that they are keen to proceed with the legal proceedings for the time being. The next legal stage could involve the court considering the core issue of the validity of a state government law to reclaim the land.

“Land is very vital. We had to go to Gujarat but we have no intention of abandoning the land. After the new land acquisition policy, it is very difficult for us to acquire any fresh land. So, we have decided to retain it. I have instructions to say this to Your Lordship, from the highest authority. We are planning to expand our operations in the state under the second phase, unless the Government shoots down our policy,” the Tatas’ senior counsel, Harish Salve, told the apex court.

The Supreme Court bench of Justices H.L. Dattu and Ranjana Prakash Desai were hearing the appeal of the Bengal government against a high court order annulling the state law aimed at reclaiming the land.

The counsel for the Bengal government said the Tatas did not require the land but Justice Dattu, heading the bench, said: “If the project is not abandoned, we will hear it (case)”.

The judge posted the matter for further hearing to the first week of April next year. The bench brushed aside the plea of Bengal’s counsel Rakesh Dwivedi that the matter be expedited by hearing the case either next week or at least by January next year.

Dwivedi submitted that on account of the dispute, agitation was taking place in the state. But the court said: “Merely because some people are agitating, we are not bothered.”

On July 10, the apex court asked Tata Motors to consider surrendering it rights over the Singur land as the company has moved out to Gujarat for its Nano car project. The court had refrained from dealing with the validity of the act brought in by the Mamata government.

The earlier bench of Justices Dattu and Dipak Misra, while indicating that it was in favour of the land being returned to the farmers, had said it would also seek an affidavit from the state that the land would be returned to the original owners.

Today, the Tatas made the submission after the bench enquired whether the company and the state government had come to any agreement on the basis of the suggestion made by the court on July 10.

Salve said: “We are very serious in keeping the land, otherwise where do we get a land like this (Singur). Otherwise it may take years for us to acquire land. We are serious as to what we want. We have appointed a number of vendors engaged in producing spares like steering wheels, wheel rims, etc.”

However, solicitor-general Mohan Parasaran, appearing for the Bengal government, told the bench: “I am willing to place the material that they do not require the land.” He was supported by other senior counsels Rakesh Dwivedi and Kalyan Banerjee, and the state’s standing counsel, Anip Sachthey.

Dwivedi said the Tatas had no proposal to expand its operations. “They have no plans for expansion. Everything is just in the air,” he said.

However, Salve responded: “I am willing to give them the proposal, provided they approve it.”

Supporting Salve, senior counsel Rohtagi said the company had invested Rs 500 crore in the project and cannot abandon it at this stage.

Citing Section 48 of the Land Acquisition Act, he said once the state had allotted the land to a particular company, group or developer, it could not reclaim the plot.

The counsel referred to the Calcutta High Court division bench’s ruling in favour of the company. “They just want to grab the land,” he told the court.