Urban Improvement Trust Vs Vidhya Devi 2024 INSC 980- Article 300A Constitution – Land Acquisition – Delay & Laches

Constitution of India – Article 226,300A – The right to property is enshrined in the Constitution and requires that procedural safeguards be followed to ensure fairness and non-arbitrariness in decision-making especially in cases of acquisition by the State. Therefore, the delay in approaching the court, while a significant factor, cannot override the necessity to address illegalities and protect right to property enshrined in Article 300A. The court must balance the need for finality in legal proceedings with the need to rectify injustice. The right of an individual to vindicate and protect private property cannot be brushed away merely on the grounds of delay and laches. (Para 51)