CHANDAUSI – In clear violation of the Supreme Court directive restraining bulldozer action across the country, the administration in Chandausi in Uttar Pradesh’s violence-hit district of Sambhal on Wednesday demolished 12 alleged illegal shops.
The bulldozer action comes as tensions simmer in the area following large-scale violence during a court-ordered survey of Sambhal’s Shahi Jama Masjid and the recovery of cartridges allegedly made in Pakistan and the United States.
On November 13, the Supreme Court laid down guidelines to curb the demolition of people’s homes and private properties by the government “only on the ground that they are accused of a crime”.
A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan held that such actions violated the rights of the accused, including the presumption of innocence, unfairly punished the other tenants who have not been accused of anything, and violated the right to shelter under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
The apex court’s guidelines include a mandatory 15-day notice period for the tenants to either challenge the demolition order or see to their affairs before being evicted.
The operation in Chandausi, initially halted amid communal unrest and rising tensions, has resumed in full force. Chandausi Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Neetu Rani confirmed the renewed action. “Encroachments were temporarily overlooked due to the sensitive situation, but we have now resumed operations to ensure law and order in the district,” she said.
This story was originally published in clarionindia.net. Read the full story here.
