The Supreme Court announced on Friday that it would consider a plea seeking contempt action against the authorities in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, for allegedly defying a court ruling on property demolition. The plea, representing concerns over unauthorized demolition activities, is slated for a hearing in one week.
The case was presented before Justices B.R. Gavai and Augustine George Masih. The petitioner’s lawyer, requesting a brief postponement due to personal challenges faced by the counsel initially scheduled to argue the case, succeeded in having the hearing deferred.
Filed through advocate Chand Qureshi, the petitioner, Mohammed Ghayoor, alleges that local authorities in Sambhal demolished part of his property on January 10-11 without prior notice, contrary to the Supreme Court’s directives issued on November 13 last year. These guidelines mandate a show cause notice before any demolition, providing the property owner 15 days to respond, a protocol apparently disregarded in this instance.
According to the petition, despite possessing all necessary documents and approved property maps, enforcement officers proceeded with the demolition. The plea stresses that the demolition was executed without affording any opportunity for the family to present their case or documentation, highlighting a clear breach of procedural justice as stipulated by the apex court.
The November 2024 Supreme Court ruling also clarified exceptions to these guidelines, noting that they do not apply to unauthorized structures in public spaces such as roads, streets, footpaths, near railways, water bodies, or where a court has specifically ordered demolition.
