NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday strongly criticized the Uttar Pradesh government for demolishing houses in Prayagraj within 24 hours of serving notice, stating that the act “shocked the conscience of the court.” The court hinted that it would permit the aggrieved homeowners to rebuild their houses, subject to the outcome of the case challenging the demolition. The case pertains to the razing of homes belonging to a lawyer, a professor, and others in 2021.
SC Condemns UP’s High-Handedness
A bench of Justices Abhay Oka and N Kotishwar Singh took exception to the manner in which the demolitions were carried out, emphasizing that the process lacked due fairness. “It shocks the conscience of the court that the demolition was conducted within 24 hours of serving the notice,” the bench remarked, highlighting the state’s arbitrary action.
UP Govt Defends Its Actions
The Uttar Pradesh government, however, refuted the petitioners’ claims that the demolition occurred just a day after notices were served. Attorney General R Venkataramani, representing the state, argued that adequate time was given to the petitioners to respond. He stated that the first notice was issued on December 8, 2020, followed by subsequent notices in January 2021 and March 2021.
Disputed Timeline of Demolition
The petitioners, including advocate Zulfiqar Haider, Prof Ali Ahmed, and three others, contested this version, asserting that the demolition notice was served on March 6, 2021, and the houses were razed the very next day, March 7, 2021. They further claimed that they were denied a fair opportunity to challenge the demolition notice before the appellate authority under Section 27(2) of the UP Urban Planning and Development Act.
Court Allows Reconstruction at Owner’s Cost
The court criticized the state for serving the notices by affixture, which is not a legally recognized method, pointing out that only the final notice was served through the approved procedure. “The state must act fairly and give reasonable time for the petitioners to file an appeal before any demolition. Notice served on March 6 and demolition on March 7 is unacceptable,” the bench observed.
The court further stated, “We cannot tolerate such a process. If allowed once, this practice will continue. Therefore, we will pass an order allowing them to reconstruct at their own cost. If the appeal fails, they will have to demolish the structures at their own expense.”
Outrage Over Video of Girl Fleeing Bulldozer
Meanwhile, a viral video of an eight-year-old girl clutching her books and running away from her shanty during an anti-encroachment drive in Ambedkar Nagar’s Jalalpur area has sparked widespread outrage. The footage, which surfaced on social media, showed an earthmover revving nearby, drawing sharp criticism from opposition parties.
Former Uttar Pradesh CM and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav condemned the demolition, calling it a reflection of the state’s deteriorating condition. He posted on X, “Eight years, UP ruined, and only questions remain,” along with an AI-generated image of the girl fleeing with her books while a bulldozer loomed ominously in the background.
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