In Brief
A state government initiated land acquisition proceedings for an industrial plastic park on the first respondent's tea estate in Assam. An award was approved on 05.03.2010, compensation was paid, and possession was handed over by mid-2010. The state later initiated fresh acquisition proceedings in 2012–2014, claiming the original award was never approved. The Supreme Court held that once land is acquired, vested in the State, and possession is handed over, it cannot be re-acquired. The combined reading of the 2010 approval letter with subsequent payment and possession transfer established that the award was duly approved. Therefore, the fresh proceedings were infructuous, and the second respondent could not claim benefits under the 2013 Act. Appeal allowed.
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