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Delhi Development Authority v. Aniljit Singh & Ors.

Civil Appeal · Neutral citation not assigned (Civil Appeal No. 8687 of 2016)Decided 31 Aug 2016
Civil Appeal No. 8687 of 2016
Justice Kurian Joseph · Justice C. Nagappan

Background

Another in the batch of parallel DDA appeals disputing a finding that its acquisition of certain land had lapsed, on facts identical in principle to Civil Appeal No. 8477 of 2016.

Decision Breakdown

Following the precedent in Civil Appeal No. 8477 of 2016, the Court dismissed DDA's appeal, but gave DDA one year to initiate fresh acquisition proceedings under Section 24(2) read with Section 11 of the 2013 Act. If DDA failed to act in that time and was in possession, it was directed to return physical possession of the land to the original owner.

Lesson Learnt

The lapse-of-acquisition protection for landowners under the 2013 Act is applied uniformly by courts, even across many separate appeals filed by the same authority on the same point of law.

Official source (sci.gov.in)View Judgment (PDF)

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