In Brief
In this land acquisition case, the Supreme Court interpreted Section 24(1)(a) of the 2013 Act concerning compensation determination for proceedings initiated under the repealed 1894 Act. The Court held that the twelve-month period in Section 25 of the 2013 Act (not the two-year period under Section 11A of the 1894 Act) applies to such awards. The limitation period commences from 1st January 2014 when the 2013 Act came into force. Periods during which court orders inhibited authority action must be excluded. The Court upheld the award dated 30th October 2014 as valid, even if backdated, since it was made within the extended deadline. The acquisition proceedings did not lapse, and the High Court's judgment setting aside the award was reversed.
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