In Brief
The Delhi Development Authority challenged a High Court judgment that declared a land acquisition had lapsed under Section 24(2) of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. The issue was whether non-payment of compensation to landowners caused the acquisition to lapse, despite possession having been taken. The Supreme Court held that Section 24(2) requires both possession NOT to be taken AND compensation NOT to be paid for lapse to occur. Since possession had been taken, mere non-payment of compensation did not cause lapse. The Court overruled its prior decision in Pune Municipal Corporation and aligned with the Constitution Bench decision in Indore Development Authority. The appeal was allowed and the High Court's judgment quashed.
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