In Brief
The Delhi Development Authority challenged a High Court declaration that land acquisition proceedings had lapsed under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. The DDA argued that property owners who purchased land after acquisition proceedings began lacked legal standing to challenge the acquisition. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, holding that under Delhi's Lands (Restrictions on Transfer) Act, 1972, transfers made after the initial notification but before the formal declaration are valid and confer full property rights. The Court affirmed that acquisition proceedings lapse when compensation is not paid, and granted the DDA one year to reinitiate proceedings or return the land to the owners.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.