A supreme court injunction on Wednesday barring the West Bengal government from returning the land to farmers in Singur has brought relief to Tata Motors.

The court observed that the Trinamool congress (TMC) government returning the land would be in contravention of justice as the Calcutta high court was still hearing the issue.

The order brings immediate respite for the automobile company as chief minister Mamata Banerjee had planned to hand over 12 farms to the original owners on Wednesday, as the inaugural step in the return of around 600 acres.

The land had been leased to Tata Motors at Singur for its Nano (low-cost car) plant, after having been acquired from the farmers by the previous government of the Left Front. However, the project was abandoned in 2008 after protracted agitation by the farmers who claimed that they parted with their land under coercion and threat from the Left's cadre in the area.

Earlier this month, the West Bengal assembly passed the Singur Act allowing the state to reclaim the land that Tata had "abandoned". Tata, in response, challenged the Act in the high court saying that the company was forced out of Singur after violent protests by the locals, who were supported by TMC cadre.

Banerjee and TMC rode the poll plank in the assembly elections, promising the return of land to original owners.