New Delhi- The All India Lawyers Association for Justice (AILAJ) has urgently petitioned the judiciary, requesting the registration of a suo motu case against the increasing trend of punitive demolitions, often referred to as “bulldozer (in)justice.” These demolitions, primarily targeting the homes of marginalized communities specially Muslim citizens, have raised serious concerns over the violation of constitutional rights and the rule of law.
AILAJ proposes that the Supreme Court should issue interim orders, take cognizance of the situation, and monitor compliance with the Constitution.
The most recent case cited by AILAJ occurred on August 22, 2024, in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh. Authorities demolished the home of Haji Shehzad, a Congress leader, allegedly in retaliation for incidents of stone-pelting at the police. The stone-pelting was reported during a protest at the Kotwali police station, where people had gathered to demand action against Ramgiri Maharaj for making derogatory comments about Prophet Mohammad and Islam. Following the incident, several arrests were made, and preparations were reported for demolishing 30 more houses in Chhatarpur.
This is not an isolated case in Madhya Pradesh. A similar incident occurred in April 2022, when state authorities demolished numerous homes and businesses belonging to Muslims after communal clashes during Ram Navami. Despite numerous victims approaching the High Court, these cases remain pending without hearings.
On August 17, 2024, another incident took place in Udaipur, Rajasthan, where the house of Rashid Khan was demolished. The demolition occurred just a day after the son of his tenant allegedly stabbed a classmate, highlighting the punitive nature of the action.
The demolitions, even when addressing allegedly illegal structures, have been carried out without following proper procedures, such as issuing notices, providing opportunities to be heard, and allowing appeals.
This story was originally published in themooknayak.com. Read the full story here.
