Supreme Court – Daily Orders
Meerut Development Authority vs Laxman on 25 April, 2025
Author: Surya Kant
Bench: Surya Kant
ITEM NOS.12 + 26 COURT NO.3 SECTION XI
S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CIVIL) Diary No(s). 18912/2025
[Arising out of impugned judgment and order dated 30-09-2024 in
WRITC No. 32858/2024 passed by the High Court of Judicature at
Allahabad]
MEERUT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Petitioner(s)
VERSUS
LAXMAN & ORS. Respondent(s)
(IA No. 97960/2025 - CONDONATION OF DELAY IN FILING
IA No. 97961/2025 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.
IA No. 97959/2025 - PERMISSION TO FILE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS/FACTS/
ANNEXURES)
WITH
ITEM NO. 26
SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CIVIL) Diary No(s). 19128/2025
(IA No. 102394/2025 - CONDONATION OF DELAY IN FILING
IA No. 102398/2025 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.
IA No. 102396/2025 - PERMISSION TO FILE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS/FACTS/
ANNEXURES)
WITH
Diary No(s). 19121/2025 (XI)
(IA No. 101205/2025 - CONDONATION OF DELAY IN FILING
IA No. 101207/2025 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.
IA No. 101210/2025 - PERMISSION TO FILE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS/FACTS/
ANNEXURES)
Date : 25-04-2025 This matter was called on for hearing today.
CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURYA KANT
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE NONGMEIKAPAM KOTISWAR SINGH
For Petitioner(s) : Ms. Madhavi Divan, Sr. Adv.
Mr. Rachit Mittal, AOR
Mr. Anup Kumar, Adv.
Mr. Kanishk Raj, Adv.
Signature Not Verified
Mr. Adarsh Srivastava, Adv.
Digitally signed by
NITIN TALREJA
Date: 2025.04.30
Mr. Abhishek Sinha, Adv.
16:29:48 IST
Reason:
For Respondent(s) :
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UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following
O R D E R
1. We have heard learned senior counsel on behalf of the
petitioner – Meerut Development Authority. The challenge herein is
to an interim order of the High Court directing the parties to
maintain status quo in respect of the subject land till the next
date of hearing. The interim order has been passed in the
proceedings challenging the acquisition of land purportedly on the
ground of violation of Section 24(2) of the Right to Fair
Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation
and Resettlement Act, 2013.
2. It is urged on behalf of the petitioner – Authority that
possession of the acquired land was taken away from them, and as a
result of the status quo order, all the development activities have
come to hault.
3. We find from the impugned order that some old cases are
pending, with which the fresh filed cases have also been tagged.
4. The question as to when can Section 24(2) of the 2013 Act be
invoked, has been settled by a Constitution Bench of this Court in
Indore Development Authority v. Manoharlal & Ors. reported in
(2020) 8 SCC 129 followed by various clarifications given by a
three-Judge Bench in Govt. of NCT of Delhi & Anr. v. K.L. Rathi
Steels Limited & Ors. reported in (2024) 7 SCC 315, Government of
NCT of Delhi & Anr. v. BSK Realtors LLP & Anr. reported in (2024) 7
SCC 370 and Delhi Development Authority v. Tejpal & Ors. reported
in (2024) 7 SCC 433. That being so, we grant liberty to the
petitioner – Authority to apply to the High Court for vacation of
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stay and/or final hearing of the matters, in the larger public
interest.
5. We request the High Court that if such an application is
moved, the final hearing of the matters may be prioritised. If an
application to this effect has been already moved by the
petitioner-Authority, the Registrar General of the high Court will
ensure that such an application is listed before the Bench
immediately.
6. The Registrar General of the High Court is directed to place a
copy of this order on the paperbook of the batch matters and place
the same before the Division Bench of the High Court after
obtaining necessary orders from Hon’ble the Chief Justice of the
High Court.
7. The Special Leave Petitions are accordingly disposed of.
8. Pending application(s), if any, shall also stand disposed of.
(NITIN TALREJA) (PREETHI T.C.)
ASTT. REGISTRAR-cum-PS ASSISTANT REGISTRAR
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