‘Bulldozer justice’ continuing in UP despite Supreme Court ruling, says Allahabad HC
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The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday observed that demolitions continue to be used as punishment in Uttar Pradesh despite a Supreme Court ruling in November 2024 against the practice, ANI reported.
There are no provisions in Indian law that allow for the demolition of property as a punitive measure. However, the practice has become commonplace in Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states.
In November 2024, the Supreme Court held as illegal the practice of demolishing properties of persons accused of crimes as a punitive measure. It said that processes must be followed before removing allegedly illegal encroachments.
On Tuesday, a bench of Justices Atul Sridharan and Siddharthanandan questioned whether the Supreme Court’s directions are being followed in the state.
It also asked whether the state has the authority to demolish the home of an accused or whether its duty lies in protecting the rights of citizens, ANI reported.
The bench observed that demolitions carried out soon after the registration of an offence may constitute a distorted exercise of executive discretion. It noted that it had seen several instances where demolition notices had been issued in such circumstances, the news agency reported.
It reiterated that the Supreme Court has held that demolition cannot be used as a form of punishment. The power to impose punishment lies with the judiciary and not the executive, the bench...