In Brief
Delhi Development Authority (DDA) challenged a High Court judgment that declared land acquisition proceedings lapsed for non-payment of compensation. The Supreme Court held that under the 2013 Act, acquisition proceedings lapse only when authorities fail to take both possession AND compensation for five years. Since DDA had taken possession through proper panchnama and possession proceedings, the acquisition did not lapse merely because compensation remained unpaid to a claimant whose ownership was unproven. The Court also ruled that a writ petition challenging acquisition cannot proceed without first establishing the petitioner's title. The appeal was allowed and the High Court judgment set aside.
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