In Brief
The Delhi Development Authority sought to uphold a 1986 land acquisition award, but had taken physical possession in 2002 and only paid compensation to the Land Acquisition Collector in February 2002, with no payment actually made to the landowners until 2013. The Court held that the acquisition proceedings had lapsed under Section 24(2) of the 2013 Right to Fair Compensation Act, as compensation had not been properly paid to the landowners by 1 January 2014. Payment to the Collector, not to the landowners, and belated deposit in court without interest, do not constitute valid payment. The Authority was permitted to initiate fresh proceedings under the 2013 Act within one year, or return possession to the original owners.
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