In Brief
M/s. Model Economic Township Ltd held 15 acres of land acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. When other landholders obtained reference applications raising compensation from ₹25 lakh to ₹41.81 lakh per acre, the company later filed its own redetermination application under Section 28-A in 2012, which was approved in 2014. Subsequently, the High Court awarded ₹2.80 crore per acre to similarly situated landholders. The company challenged its lower award in the High Court, but the petition was dismissed for unjustified delay and inaction. The Supreme Court dismissed the special leave petition, holding that while Section 28-A extends compensation benefits to absent parties, a substantial company cannot succeed through unexplained inaction and delay, particularly when aware of enhanced awards to others."
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