Supreme Court Once Again Slams ‘Bulldozer Justice'

The Supreme Court of India criticised the approach known as "bulldozer justice," stating that threats of demolition are not permissible in a nation that upholds the rule of law.

A bench comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy, Sudhanshu Dhulia, and SVN Bhatti remarked that actions ignoring legal processes are akin to "bulldozing" the laws of the land.

The court was hearing a case from Gujarat’s Kheda district, where an ancestral house faced demolition after a family member was accused of sexual harassment and assault.

The petitioner, Javedali Mahebubmiya Saiyed, argued that the demolition was intended to punish the entire family for the alleged actions of one member.

The Supreme Court ruled that criminal accusations against an individual do not warrant the demolition of property and that the law must be followed to prove any criminal activity.

The bench further stressed that the actions of one family member cannot be grounds for penalising others or destroying their legally built homes.

The court stayed the demolition and ordered the concerned authorities to explain their actions within a month, maintaining the current status of the property.

This case reflects a rising trend where local authorities use demolitions as a punitive measure against individuals accused of crimes, often without following due legal process.

The court has previously stated its intention to issue guidelines to regulate such demolitions across the country.