In Brief
The Delhi Development Authority challenged a High Court judgment that declared land acquisition proceedings lapsed under Section 24(2) of the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, solely because compensation was unpaid. The Supreme Court held that Section 24(2)'s deemed lapse applies only where neither possession was taken nor compensation paid for five years prior to the Act's commencement. Since possession was taken in 2006, the proceedings did not lapse despite non-payment of compensation. The Court overruled Pune Municipal Corporation v. Harakchand Misirimal Solanki, following the Constitution Bench decision in Indore Development Authority v. Manoharlal. The appeal was allowed and the High Court's order set aside.
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