FCC

SC halts bulldozer demolitions nationwide until Oct 1

2024-09-18

The Supreme Court of India issued a stay on bulldozer demolitions across the country until October 1, prohibiting such actions without its approval, except in cases involving public roads, water bodies, and railway lines.

The court stated it would establish guidelines regarding when and how properties can be demolished according to municipal laws. Last week, a bench comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy, Sudhanshu Dhulia, and SVN Bhatti criticized the concept of "bulldozer justice," asserting that such threats of demolition are unacceptable in a nation governed by law.

This ruling came in response to a case in Gujarat, where municipal authorities threatened to demolish the home of a family, citing the involvement of one member in a criminal FIR. The petitioner, a co-owner of the land in Kathlal, Kheda district, challenged the municipal authorities' decision, arguing that his family has lived in the property for nearly two decades.

The bench remarked, "In a country where state actions are governed by the rule of law, the alleged wrongdoing of one family member cannot justify action against the entire family or their legally constructed home. Allegations of criminal activity do not warrant property demolition."