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NON-REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CIVIL APPEAL NO. 11855 OF 2016

[@ SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (C) NO. 8771 OF 2016 ] DELHI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY      Appellant(s)

                               VERSUS HARISH SAWHNEY & ORS. Respondent(s)

J U D G M E N T KURIAN, J. 1. Leave granted.   2. This  is  a  case  where  transfer  is  made  after Section 4(1) Notification under The Land Acquisition Act, 1894, but prior to Section 6(1) Declaration.     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 owner.  

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Pending applications, if any, stand disposed of. No costs.        

.......................J.               [ KURIAN JOSEPH ]  

.......................J.               [ ROHINTON FALI NARIMAN ]  New Delhi; November 29, 2016.