Calcutta high court on Thursday directed the West Bengal government to file an affidavit in connection with Tata Motor's petition challenging the Singur Rehabilitation and Development Act, 2011 by July 8.

Justice Saumitra Pal directed the government to state its opposition by an affidavit to the petition of Tata Motors and also asked Tata Motors Ltd to file a reply to that by July 12.

Hearing on the main petition challenging the Singur Act will be held on July 14, Justice

Pal said.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the state government not to proceed with handover or return of land to farmers in Singur until further orders by the Calcutta High Court which is hearing the petition filed by Tata Motors against the Singur Act which was enacted on June 21.

A vacation bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justices P Sathasivam an A K Patnaik, said they were passing a 'limited interim order' and that the main matter against the state government on the issue of possession and distribution of land to original owners was pending before the Calcutta high court.