(1.) The challenge in the present appeal is to an order dtd. 9/12/2016 passed by the High Court of Delhi whereby the writ petition filed by respondent No. 1 (For short, the 'purchaser') was allowed and the proceedings initiated under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (For short, the 'Act') were declared to have lapsed in terms of Sec. 24(2) of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (For short, the '2013 Act') .
(2.) The process of acquisition of land admeasuring 50,000 Bighas situated in 12 villages for the planned development of Delhi started way back in 1980. The intention to acquire the land was published vide notification dtd. 5/11/1980 in respect of land situated in villages of Tughlakabad, Tigri, Deoli, Khanpur, Said-ul- Ajaib, Neb Sarai, Hauz Khas and Khirki, and vide notification dtd. 25/11/1980 in respect of the land situated in villages Chattarpur, Satbari Maidangarhi, Sayoorpur and Rajpur Khurd. The declarations under Sec. 6 of the Act were published on 27/5/1985, 6/6/1985, 7/6/1985 and 26/2/1986 and the award were announced on 20/5/1987 or thereafter.
(3.) M/s. Satluj Bhatta Co. through its partners (Hereinafter referred to as "Original land owners") (1) Shri Ishwar Chander Gupta; (2) Shri Hari Chand; and (3) Shri Jai Chand were owners of land admeasuring 58 Bigha 14 Biswa. An agreement to sell was ex- ecuted by them on 25/9/1990 for the land measuring 28 Bigha 08 Biswa with the purchaser. Thereafter, the purchaser is said to have purchased the land in question vide sale deeds dtd. 30/8/1991 and 27/2/1991.