October 22, 2024 - The Supreme Court has issued an indirect warning to the Uttar Pradesh government against any “bulldozer action” in the Bahraich communal violence case of October 13, 2024. Hearing a plea by three Bahraich residents who were challenging the demolition notices, Justice Bhushan R. Gavai said today (October 22), "If they (UP authorities) want to take the risk of flouting our order, it's their choice."

However, the court said that it will not intervene if the structures facing demolition are illegal.

The bench asked the Uttar Pradesh government not to take any action before the next hearing tomorrow. The UP government has assured the SC of the same.

A bench of justices Gavai and KV Viswanathan were hearing an urgent mention of the application challenging the Public Works Department (PWD)’s notices for the removal of properties near a road.

The petitioners had moved the Supreme Court, seeking urgent relief against the demolition notices saying PWD issued the notices saying their properties were “illegal” as they were situated within 60 feet from the Kundasar-Mahsi-Nanpara road categorised as the “main district road”. They argued it was quite clear that the demolition notices were punitive.

Earlier, the Allahabad High Court extended to 15 days the deadline to file replies to the demolition.

Source: Media Reports