Supreme Court pauses bulldozer demolitions until next hearing on October 1
- In Reports
- 07:27 PM, Sep 17, 2024
- Myind Staff
The Supreme Court decided to create guidelines for disposing of properties in accordance with local ordinances. In accordance with municipal laws, the Supreme Court of India announced on Tuesday that it would establish guidelines regarding the timing and manner of property demolition. In response to numerous complaints that some states were demolishing the properties of people suspected of crimes, the court released its ruling.
It further mandated that the bulldozer demolition across India would not take place till October 1 without the permission of the court. The apex court also said no permission was required for demolitions on public roads, water bodies, and railway lines. “We are streamlining direction so no one can misuse the law and indulge in any Constitutional infirmity,” the apex court asserted.
The Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court on Tuesday that during the course of the hearings on petitions against "bulldozer justice," an effort was made to create a specific narrative. As he said on Tuesday, “Narrative is being built. What is this narrative building? Give us instances, we will give answers on how it was not illegal demolition. We have to demolish all outside narratives.”
“We will seek your (S-G Tushar Mehta) assistance over this glorification and grandstanding and justification of bulldozers in the name of illegal constructions. We will, if need be, call ECI also. Unauthorised, by all means, after following procedures. But for any other extraneous reasons, it cannot be,” Justice Vishwanathan told Tushar Mehta, according to Bar and Bench. Adding further Justice said, “Under no circumstances whatsoever. You first dissociate with this view that we are against you. Guidelines have to be in the framework of municipal law and in line with Constitutional principles. Heavens will not fall.”
The Supreme Court will sit on October 1 to hear cases challenging demolitions of properties belonging to accused persons of crimes. The Supreme Court questioned whether it was lawful to demolish someone's home just because they were being accused during the hearings on September 2. The apex court had remarked, “How can anybody's house be demolished only because he is an accused? Even if he is a convict, still it can't be done without following the procedure as prescribed by law.” The High Court expressed its intentions to provide standard guidelines all over the country to handle this effectively.
The Supreme Court was hearing petitions filed by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and others. They are pleading before the court to ask state governments not to raze the properties of people who are accused of rioting and violence. The Supreme Court had, early in the week, agreed to hear a plea by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind against the demolition of buildings in the Jahangirpuri area of Delhi.
Image source: Hindustan Times
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