In Brief
This case concerns whether the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority could acquire land that had been requisitioned since 1979 under the West Bengal Land (Requisition and Acquisition) Act, 1948. The High Court's earlier order in 1993 directed acquisition within 6 months or release of the property. When the Authority issued an acquisition notice in 1996, the High Court's Division Bench quashed it, holding the requisition had lapsed. The Supreme Court reversed this, holding that since the High Court did not quash the requisition notification and no formal release order was passed, the requisition continued and acquisition remained valid. The Court held that court orders do not disable statutory authorities from exercising statutory powers for valid public purposes, and that the acquisition was lawful."
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