In Brief
The Government of Delhi challenged a High Court judgment that declared land acquisition proceedings lapsed because compensation was not tendered before the 2013 Act came into force, though possession was taken in 2012. The Supreme Court held that land acquisition does not lapse under Section 24(2) of the 2013 Act merely because compensation was not paid if possession has already been taken. The Court overruled the Pune Municipal Corporation precedent, holding that Section 24(2) requires both possession and compensation to be absent for deemed lapse; if either exists, proceedings continue. The appeal was allowed.
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