The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a new plea seeking compensation for individuals whose homes have been demolished by government bulldozer actions. The bench, led by Justice BR Gavai, informed the petitioner that the matter had already been closed for judgment and advised withdrawal of the plea to avoid outright rejection.
This decision comes as the Supreme Court had previously reserved judgment on October 1 regarding several petitions challenging the legality of using bulldozers to demolish properties allegedly linked to criminal activities or illegal constructions, a practice often criticized as “bulldozer justice.” Critics argue that this method has been used indiscriminately, sometimes with a religious bias, leading to calls for clearer regulations and compensatory measures for affected individuals.
During the proceedings, the state governments defended the demolitions, stating they targeted only buildings that were illegally constructed or on encroached land. The court acknowledged the legality of demolishing structures for these reasons but stressed that demolitions based solely on an individual’s criminal record, even if convicted, are not justified without proper legal process.
The plea in question pushed for compensation for damages resulting from such demolitions and demanded transparency by publicizing the names of both the officers involved in the demolition actions and the victims thereof. However, with the Supreme Court’s decision to close the matter for judgment, this plea was withdrawn.
In its upcoming judgment, the Supreme Court is expected to issue pan-India guidelines to ensure that demolitions are carried out legally and ethically, protecting the rights of citizens. The court emphasized that its directives would be secular in nature and applicable universally, irrespective of the individuals’ religious affiliations.
