In Brief
The Agra Development Authority appealed a High Court order that declared land acquisition proceedings had lapsed because compensation was not paid to landowners, despite the Authority having taken possession and mutated its name in revenue records. The Supreme Court held that acquisition proceedings do not lapse merely due to non-payment of compensation if possession has been taken. Under the 2013 Act, deemed lapse occurs only when authorities failed for five years to take BOTH possession AND pay compensation. Once possession is taken and an award is passed, the land vests in the State. The Court overruled the High Court's reliance on an earlier precedent, applying the Constitution Bench decision in Indore Development Authority, and quashed the High Court's order, dismissing the writ petition.
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