STATE OF GUJARAT & ANR. vs PATEL NARANBHAI NATHUBAI & ORS.

The Supreme Court held that the declaration under Section 6 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, made on 18th January 1969, was valid despite the Gujarat High Court's finding of unreasonable delay. The Court emphasized that the validation provision, effective from 20th January 1967, supports the legality of the declaration. The High Court's reliance on its previous judgment was deemed unsustainable, leading to the appeal's allowance and the High Court's decision being set aside.