In Brief
The Delhi Development Authority challenged a High Court judgment holding that land acquisition proceedings lapsed under Section 24 of the 2013 Act. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeals, affirming that land acquisition proceedings initiated under the 1894 Act lapse if physical possession was not taken within five years before 01.01.2014. The Court held that under Section 16 of the 1894 Act, land vests in the government only upon actual possession, not merely upon an award. Since possession was not taken within the specified period, the proceedings were deemed lapsed, though the government could initiate fresh proceedings under the 2013 Act.
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