In Brief
The Government of Delhi challenged a High Court order declaring that land acquisition proceedings had lapsed solely because compensation was unpaid. The Supreme Court held that under the 2013 Land Acquisition Act, Section 24(2), acquisition proceedings lapse only when both possession is not taken AND compensation is not paid—not when either condition is absent. Since possession was taken and transferred to the beneficiary on 21 March 2007, despite non-payment of compensation, the acquisition did not lapse. The Court overruled its earlier decision in Pune Municipal Corporation v. Harakchand Misirimal Solanki and quashed the High Court's order, allowing the appeal.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.