NEW DELHI: Observing that govt authorities indulging in ‘bulldozer justice‘ amounts to “running a bulldozer over the laws of the land”, Supreme Court on Thursday held that such actions are against the law and said involvement in crime is no ground for demolition of a property.
This is the second time this month that the court has come down heavily on demolition of property of those accused in various crimes.On Sept 2, an SC bench had said law does not permit the destruction of the family shelters of even convicts, and agreed to frame guidelines to be followed across all states to prevent arbitrary demolitions.
This is the second time this month that the court has come down heavily on demolition of property of those accused in various crimes.On Sept 2, an SC bench had said law does not permit the destruction of the family shelters of even convicts, and agreed to frame guidelines to be followed across all states to prevent arbitrary demolitions.
The practice, which was initiated by Uttar Pradesh govt as a punitive measure against accused persons, is being replicated by others, including Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
On Thursday, hearing the plea of a family from Gujarat whose home the municipal authorities had threatened to bulldoze, a bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy, Sudhanshu Dhulia and S V N Bhatti strongly disapproved of the practice. It said the entire family could not be punished by demolishing the house for the offence allegedly committed by one member.
“The court cannot be oblivious to such demolition threats, inconceivable in a nation where law is supreme,” it said. Such actions, “may be seen as running a bulldozer over the laws of the land”, it added.