Overview
- The court required the state to complete ongoing acquisition or direct purchase processes and submit Action Taken Reports by March 31, 2026.
- It divided the matter into three buckets, reserving decisions on fresh acquisitions pending arguments on use of Section 40 of the 2013 land acquisition law.
- The next hearing is scheduled for April 2, 2026 to assess compliance and consider emergency provisions.
- The bench rejected electoral roll revision and election preparations as valid reasons for delay, underscoring border security imperatives.
- Union counsel told the court only about 71 km of a 235 km requirement has been handed over despite repeated central reminders, prompting BJP attacks on the TMC and a TMC retort questioning implementation where land is already available.