Apex court gives historic verdict on Land acquisition

New Delhi: The Supreme Court, on Friday, ruled that land acquisition would not lapse when possession taken but compensation not paid. Or when compensation paid but possession not taken within five years.

A five-judge Constitution Bench, headed by Justice Arun Mishra, delivered its judgement today on the issue of interpretation of Section 24 of the 2013 Land Acquisition Act.Spirit of the judgement is that the benefit should go to the land owners, agriculturists and not to the intermediaries, said Justice Mishra, as he concluded reading out the order.

"Under 24A, if award is not made till 1.1.14, acquisition won't lapse," Apex Court held. 

Compensation need not be essentially deposited in the court. It would not result into lapse, according to the  verdict. 

Land owners, who refuse to accept compensation could not press for cancellation of acquisition, ruled the top court. Deemed lapse of acquisition, it said, would  apply only when authorities by their inaction have failed to comply. (UNI)