JUDGMENT

KURIAN, J.

Leave granted.

2. Whether the subsequent purchasers/assignees/power of attorney holders, etc., have locus standi to file a petition for a declaration of lapse of acquisition proceedings under Section 24(2) of The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (hereinafter referred to as "the 2013 Act"), is the only issue arising for consideration in these cases.

3. The High Court has taken the view in favour of such people. Thus, aggrieved the NCT of Delhi and Delhi Development Authority are in appeals before this Court.

4. At the outset, we may note that in these cases, the land acquisition proceedings have otherwise lapsed by the operation of Section 24(2) of the 2013 Act since either compensation was not paid or possession was not taken within five years prior to 01.01.2014, the date of coming into force of the 2013 Act. Thus, the dispute is only on the locus standi.

5. Shri Amarendra Saran, learned Senior Counsel leading the arguments on behalf of the appellants submits that in all these cases, the transfer is in violation of The Delhi Lands (Restrictions on Transfer) Act, 1972 (hereinafter referred to