The Supreme Court on Friday declined to issue any order to stay a demolition drive in Gujarat, whereby Islamic structures and houses of Muslims are allegedly being illegally demolished in the Gir Somnath district of the State [Summast Patni Musslim Jamat v Rajesh Manjhu the State of Gujarat and ors].
A Bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan issued notice in the matter, but declined to accede to a request to pass an order of status quo.
The Court assured that it would order the State to rebuild demolished structures, if it finds that any such action was taken in violation of the Court’s earlier directions against illegal demolitions or “bulldozer justice.”
“If we find contempt, we will order them to rebuild the structures,” the Court said.
The Bench was hearing a contempt of court petition against the Collector of Gir Somnath and other officials over the alleged illegal demolition of the Dargah Mangroli Shah Baba, Eidgah and several other structures located in Prabhas Patan, Veraval and Gir Somnath.
The petition was filed through advocate Anas Tanwir and drafted by advocates Ebad Ur Rahman and Juned Shelat.
This story was originally published in barandbench.com. Read the full story here.
