Stating that authorities should strictly follow due procedure
under the law, the Supreme Court on Thursday sought replies from the Uttar
Pradesh government and its authorities within three days on the alleged illegal
use of bulldozers for "retaliatory demolition" of houses of
riot-accused.
Jamiat-Ulama-I-Hind & others sought directions to UP
authorities to ensure that no further demolitions of properties are carried out
in State without following due process.
The Supreme Court has requested a response from the Prayagraj
and Kanpur governments and municipal officials within three days, and the case
will be heard next week.
The SC observed that it can't stay demolitions but the
process of law must be followed for the demolition of alleged unauthorised
structures.
There must be a sense among the citizens that rule of law
prevails in the country, a vacation bench of Justices AS Bopanna and Vikram
Nath said.
The Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind organisation has previously submitted
a petition against the demolition of structures in the national capital's
Jahangirpuri neighbourhood.
According to the new petitions in the pending petition, some
significant developments have occurred since the last hearing in the case,
necessitating the Court's attention.
A few days ago, two political leaders made some distasteful
and disrespectful remarks, causing communal strife in several regions of the
country. Following the words of the two political leaders, a number of
residents in Kanpur's district called for a bandh in protest.
Protests have been erupting in many Indian cities to condemn
the demolition of homes and businesses belonging to Muslims, in what critics
call a growing pattern of “bulldozer justice” aimed at punishing activists from
the minority group.
On Sunday, authorities in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh
rode on a bulldozer to raze the home of Javed Ahmad, who they said was
connected to Muslim religious protests that turned violent last Friday. Police
arrested Ahmad on Saturday.
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