Can the state government acquire my Kolkata agricultural land for a private company under the state land acquisition law?

Acquisition of your Kolkata agricultural land for a private company must satisfy the public purpose requirement under West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act 1997 and the central Right to Fair Compensation Act, and the procedure must include social impact assessment and prior consent of affected families. The Calcutta High Court has held that acquisition for a private entity must be for a genuine public purpose and that the company cannot be a sole beneficiary, and any acquisition for purely private gain is liable to be quashed.

You are entitled to compensation at market value, solatium, and interest, and the award must be determined after hearing all affected persons under West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act 1997. If the notification is vague or the public purpose is a facade, you can challenge the acquisition by writ in the Calcutta High Court before taking possession.

Collect the notification, the SIA report, and the consent documents if any, as the absence of proper consent is a strong ground to challenge the acquisition.