New Delhi, Sep 4: The Supreme Court has accepted two petitions filed on behalf of individuals whose homes were recently demolished in bulldozer actions. These petitions were brought before the court by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR). The cases involve incidents from Udaipur and Jaura in Madhya Pradesh, where homes were razed without due legal process.
In Udaipur, Rashid Khan’s home was demolished by a bulldozer due to allegations against the son of one of his tenants, despite Rashid Khan himself having no involvement. Similarly, in Jaura, a part of Mohammad Hussain’s father’s home was destroyed based on accusations against his son. Both actions were carried out illegally and unjustly.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court issued notices to the governments of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The court also indicated that in the next hearing, it would consider issuing directives to prevent such bulldozer actions across the country.
APCR filed Intervention Applications on behalf of Mohammad Hussain and Rashid Khan, linking these cases to a previously filed Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and Brinda Karat regarding bulldozer actions in Jahangirpuri in 2022.
APCR’s legal team, including Senior Advocate Chander Uday Singh, AOR Fauzia Shakil, AOR Ajwa Singh, and Advocate M. Huzefa, represented the case in the court. They emphasized the need for guidelines ensuring that bulldozer actions are carried out only through proper legal procedures and not at the discretion of administrative authorities.
Acknowledging APCR’s demand, the Supreme Court ordered the submission of an advisory on these guidelines by September 17, which APCR will prepare and present to the court.
This case is not only significant for protecting the rights of the affected individuals but also represents a crucial step towards ensuring strict adherence to legal procedures across the country. It is hoped that the Supreme Court’s decision on September 17 will set a precedent against such illegal actions.
