Kolkata, Jul 26 (IANS): Justice Soumitra Pal of the Calcutta High Court Tuesday withdrew from the Singur land case hearing because he said he knew personally one of those named in the petition filed by Tata Motors. A new judge has been appointed to hear the case afresh.

The development took place when Tata Motors' counsel Samaraditya Pal was closing his arguments in the case, in which the West Bengal government is a respondent.

"Justice Pal has recused himself for personal reasons. He has released the matter from his court," government pleader Ashok Banerjee told mediapersons.

Justice Pal, announcing his withdrawal from the bench hearing the case, said it would be improper for him to sit in judgment as he knew personally one of those named in Tata Motors' petition.

The company June 28 approached the Supreme Court against the "undue haste" the state government was showing in returning the land acquired from farmers for the Tatas' small car unit in Singur in West Bengal's Hooghly district.

The apex court June 29 stayed the re-distribution of land acquired from farmers till the final order on the matter by the high court. It directed the high court to dispose of the case within a month.