In Brief
The Supreme Court set aside a Delhi High Court judgment that had declared land acquisition proceedings lapsed under the 2013 Act due to non-payment of compensation. The Court held that acquisition proceedings do not lapse if the acquiring authority has taken possession of the land, even if compensation remains unpaid. Where DDA took possession through proper panchnama proceedings in December 2013, the acquisition is valid and cannot be deemed lapsed. The Court reaffirmed that Section 24(2) of the 2013 Act requires both inaction on possession AND non-payment before proceedings lapse—not one or the other.
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