DELHI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY – Vs. VED PRAKASH AND OTHERS –

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

DIVISION BENCH

( Before : Kurian Joseph and Rohinton Fali Nariman, JJ. )

DELHI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY – APPELLANTS

Vs.

VED PRAKASH AND OTHERS – RESPONDENTS

Civil Appeal No. 11581 of 2016 (@ Special Leave Petition (C) No. 35538 of 2016), (@ Special Leave Petition (C)…..CC. No. 22452 of 2016).

Decided on : 02-12-2016

Constitution of India, 1950 – Article 133
Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 – Section 24(2)

JUDGMENT

Kurian, J. – Delay condoned.

1. Leave granted.

2. The issue, in principle, is covered against the appellant by judgments in Civil Appeal No. 8477 of 2016 arising out of Special Leave Petition (C) No. 8467 of 2015 and Civil Appeal No. 5811 of 2015 arising out of Special Leave Petition (C) No. 21545 of 2015.

3. This appeal is, accordingly, dismissed.

4. In the peculiar facts and circumstances of this case, the appellant is given a period of one year to exercise its liberty granted under Section 24(2) of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 for initiation of the acquisition proceedings afresh.

5. We make it clear that in case no fresh acquisition proceedings are initiated within the said period of one year from today by issuing a Notification under Section 11 of the Act, the appellant, if in possession, shall return the physical possession of the land to the original land owner.

6. Pending applications, if any, stand disposed of.

7. No costs.