The Supreme Court of India, in a sharp rebuke of the growing trend of “bulldozer justice,” reiterated on Thursday that the rule of law must prevail, and condemned actions that bypass legal procedures. The court’s remarks came during a hearing on the attempted demolition of an ancestral house in Gujarat’s Kheda district, allegedly linked to a criminal case involving a family member.
A bench comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy, Sudhanshu Dhulia, and SVN Bhatti emphasized that the court cannot ignore actions that may be perceived as “running a bulldozer over the laws of the land.” The court made these strong observations while hearing a plea from Javedali Mahebubmiya Saiyed, whose family’s property faced demolition after his brother was accused of sexual harassment and assault, reported The Hindustan Times.
Saiyed claimed that the Kathlal Nagar Palika issued a demolition notice on September 6, just four days after an FIR was registered against his brother. In his petition, he argued that the action was a form of collective punishment against the entire family for the alleged involvement of one member in criminal activity.
The Supreme Court firmly stated that the mere accusation of a crime is no justification for the demolition of a property. “In a country governed by the rule of law, the transgression by one family member cannot lead to punitive actions against others or their legally constructed residence. Moreover, the alleged crime must be proven through due legal process in a court of law,” the bench noted.
The court ordered a stay on the demolition, instructing the authorities to maintain the status quo concerning the property and demanding an explanation from the concerned officials within a month.
The issue of “bulldozer justice” has come under increasing scrutiny, with local authorities frequently using bulldozers to demolish properties of those accused of crimes, often without following proper legal procedures. The court’s comments reflect a growing unease over this practice, with critics pointing to violations of legal rights and due process.
Earlier, on September 2, another Supreme Court bench had raised similar concerns and announced plans to issue guidelines regulating demolitions across the country, questioning how a house could be demolished based on accusations alone, without a proper conviction.
In both instances, the Supreme Court stressed that due process and legal procedures must be followed, warning against actions that undermine the fundamental principles of justice and law in India.
