Supreme Court’s demolition verdict will help curb organized crime: UP

The Supreme Court earlier today laid down pan-India guidelines on the demolition issue. (File)

Lucknow:

The Uttar Pradesh government, which has been facing criticism from several quarters over ‘bulldozer action’, on Wednesday welcomed the Supreme Court’s verdict on the issue, saying it will help curb organized crime and stoke fear of legal consequences among criminals.

The opposition parties hoped that this verdict would put an end to ‘bulldozer terror’ and ‘jungle raj’ in the state.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court laid down pan-India guidelines on the demolition issue and said no property should be demolished without prior notice and those affected should be given 15 days to respond.

It equated “bulldozer justice” with a lawless state of affairs in which might is right.

Clarifying that the Uttar Pradesh government was not involved in the case, a state government spokesperson said in a statement that the judgment was part of the ‘Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind vs. North Delhi Municipal Corporation and others’.

A spokesperson for the Uttar Pradesh government welcomed the Supreme Court verdict as an important step forward and said, “The prerequisite of good governance is the rule of law.” “This ruling will increase criminals’ fear of the law, making it easier to control mafia elements and organized professional criminals,” the spokesperson said, adding: “The rule of law applies to everyone.”

Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar also welcomed the court’s order and said, “The government never destroys anyone’s personal property. Bulldozers are used for illegal occupation of public property. It was the Supreme Court’s decision, we don’t do it alone. “

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati welcomed the judgment of will manage prosperity. well and the terror of the bulldozer will now finally end.”

Congress president Ajay Rai said the verdict would end ‘jungle raj’ in the state, while the Samajwadi Party said ‘bulldozer action’ was ‘totally unjust, unfair, unconstitutional and illegal’.

Delivering the verdict, the Supreme Court said the executive cannot become a judge, decide that a suspect is guilty and punish him by demolishing his property as such an act would exceed its limits.

It also noted that it will be “totally unconstitutional” for more than one reason if a citizen’s house is demolished merely because he is a suspect or a convict, even without following due process as prescribed by law .

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)