SC issues notice to Uttar Pradesh on demolition of properties

The Supreme Court on Thursday sent a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government regarding the demolition of properties being carried out in the state. This is in response to pleas by Jamiat-Ulama-I-Hind & others seeking directions to UP authorities to ensure that no further demolitions of properties are carried out in State without following due process.

The Supreme Court has requested a response from the Prayagraj and Kanpur governments and municipal officials within three days, and the case will be heard next week.

The SC observed that it can't stay demolitions but the process of law must be followed for the demolition of alleged unauthorised structures.


The Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind organisation has previously submitted a petition against the demolition of structures in the national capital's Jahangirpuri neighbourhood.

According to the new petitions in the pending petition, some significant developments have occurred since the last hearing in the case, necessitating the Court's attention.

A few days ago, two political leaders made some distasteful and disrespectful remarks, causing communal strife in several regions of the country. Following the words of the two political leaders, a number of residents in Kanpur's district called for a bandh in protest.

Protests have been erupting in many Indian cities to condemn the demolition of homes and businesses belonging to Muslims, in what critics call a growing pattern of “bulldozer justice” aimed at punishing activists from the minority group.

On Sunday, authorities in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh rode on a bulldozer to raze the home of Javed Ahmad, who they said was connected to Muslim religious protests that turned violent last Friday. Police arrested Ahmad on Saturday.

The protests were sparked by derogatory remarks about Islam and the Prophet Muhammed made recently by two spokespeople of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. The party suspended one of them and expelled the other, issuing a rare statement saying it “strongly denounces insults of any religious personalities.”