POONA TIMBER MERCHANTS & SAW MILLS ASSO. vs STATE OF MAHARASHTRA .

The Supreme Court ruled that negotiations between landowners and beneficiaries under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966, do not constitute steps for land acquisition as per Section 127 of the Act. The Court upheld the Bombay High Court's decision that the reservation of land for 'timber industries' lapsed due to failure to acquire the land within six months of the purchase notice. Consequently, the appeals were dismissed, affirming the lapse of reservation and the non-acquisition of the land.