Supreme Court Upholds Delhi High Court Order in DDA Case, Extends Time for Acquisition Compensation Under 2013 Land Act.


15 October 2025 Special Leave Petition >> Civil & Consumer Law   |   Land Acquistion >> Property & Real Estate  

The Supreme Court of India has rejected a plea moved by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) against an order of the Delhi High Court in a land acquisition case, even as it gave the agency more time to finalize the acquisition and pay compensation to the landowners under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

A bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi reserved the order on October 15, 2025, in Delhi Development Authority v. Simla Devi & Ors. (Diary No. 53900 of 2025). The Court refused to interfere with the High Court's July 3, 2024, order, holding that questions of fact being in dispute, they were not ripe for fresh consideration under Article 136 of the Constitution.

 

 

Following condoning a small delay in filing, the bench noted that the DDA had requested reconsideration of the factual findings of the High Court. But exercising restraint in the limited jurisdiction of special leave petitions, the Court declined to reopen such factual findings.

In rejecting the petition, the Supreme Court exercised its discretionary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to make full justice between the parties. Mentioning its previous three-judge bench judgment in Delhi Development Authority v. Tejpal & Ors. (2024) 7 SCC 433, the Court ordered the DDA to be given the same advantage of time and procedural relaxations granted in the Tejpal case for the purpose of finalizing land acquisition proceedings.

In Tejpal, the Court had issued detailed directions under Article 142 to bring in synchronization of intricate land acquisition cases pending for decades in Delhi. It gave authorities one more year—from August 1, 2024—to start and finish acquisition proceedings under the 2013 Land Act. The directions also entailed streamlined procedures: doing away with social impact assessments and some chapters of the Act so compensation could be paid promptly without reopening concluded acquisitions.

Taking these guidelines for the current issue, the Court again emphasized that concerned landowners would receive compensation as on January 1, 2014, together with the due benefits under the 2013 Act. The bench also made clear that the extended period of one year for the conclusion of proceedings would run from the date of this order, i.e., October 15, 2025.

The verdict demonstrates the pragmatic spirit of the Court in balancing acquisition disputes long-pending between landowners and authorities. Through a uniform application of the Tejpal framework, the Supreme Court has attempted to enhance legal certainty, ensure quick compensation, and forestall further procedural deadlocks under the new land acquisition regime.


RIGHT TO FAIR COMPENSATION AND TRANSPARENCY IN LAND ACQUISITION, REHABILITATION AND RESETTLEMENT ACT, 2013