Priyanka Tiwari
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The Supreme Court on Monday criticized the Uttar Pradesh government for the demolition of houses in Prayagraj, calling the action arbitrary. The court said the manner in which the demolitions were carried out shocked its conscience. Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuiyan expressed serious concern over the use of bulldozers to bring down houses within 24 hours of issuing notices, without giving the affected residents a fair chance to appeal.
The judges stated that such a process cannot be accepted. They emphasized that if this kind of conduct is tolerated even once, it might become a norm. The court added that the way the demolitions were executed was highly disturbing and completely unacceptable in a legal system that values due process.
The court said that petitioners will be allowed to rebuild their demolished homes only if they file an appeal with the relevant appellate authority within the specified period. If the appeal is not successful, they would need to remove the reconstructed structures at their own expense. The hearing was adjourned to allow the petitioners time to file an affidavit.
Attorney General R. Venkataramani, defending the state government, claimed that proper notice procedures were followed. He pointed to widespread encroachments and explained that the state faces challenges in controlling unauthorized occupation of land.
The Supreme Court had earlier expressed similar concerns about house demolitions in Prayagraj carried out without following the law. At that time, the court said such actions send a wrong and alarming message. The petitioners argued that the state demolished their homes under the false belief that the land belonged to gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed, who was killed in 2023.
The petition currently being heard was filed by advocate Zulfiqar Haider, professor Ali Ahmed, and others affected by the demolitions. The Allahabad High Court had previously dismissed their plea challenging the government's action.
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