#Acquisition Lapse

Rajasthan High Court rules that land acquisition proceedings automatically lapse under Section 24(2) of the Right to Fair Compensation Act if neither possession is taken nor compensation paid within five years of enforcement. The judgment bars voiding sale deeds without proper pleading and mandates refund of settlement deposits with interest, reinforcing landowners' rights against stalled acquisitions.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has ruled that the mere passage of time does not invalidate land acquisition proceedings under Section 24(2) of the LARR Act, 2013, provided compensation has been paid and physical possession transferred to the acquiring authority. This clarifies a critical ambiguity for state agencies and landowners alike, reinforcing that procedural compliance, not chronological delay, determines the validity of acquisition. The dismissal of all 15 writ petitions sets a binding precedent for similar cases across the state.