Reminding the authorities that the “rule of law in the country” exists, the Supreme Court blasted the Prayagraj development authority and the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday for their “inhuman and illegal” house demolitions. The Supreme Court ruled that residential buildings owned by citizens could not be destroyed in this way.
“There is something called right to shelter, due process of law,” the Supreme Court ruled, adding that the demolition of Prayagraj “shocks” its conscience. The top court ordered the administration to compensate the home owners with ₹10 lakh apiece within six weeks.
Similar remarks were made by the Supreme Court on March 24, when it criticized the Uttar Pradesh government for its “high handed” demolition in Prayagraj, stating that it had disturbed its conscience. Advocate Zulfiqar Haider, professor Ali Ahmed, and other individuals whose homes were destroyed are presenting their case to a bench made up of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan.
Their appeal contesting the demolition was denied by the Allahabad High Court. On March 6, 2021, the petitioners claimed to have received notice over certain structures that were situated over a section of Nazul Plot No. 19, Lukerganj, police station Khuldabad in the Prayagraj district.
According to the petitioners’ attorney, the state government destroyed the homes in error, claiming that the land belonged to gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed, who was killed in a police confrontation in 2023. Additionally, the Uttar Pradesh government’s demolition of homes in Prayagraj without following the proper legal process was earlier deemed to convey a “shocking and wrong signal” by the highest court.
Defending state action, attorney general R Venkataramani during the March 24 hearing had assured of following the adequate “due process” in serving the notices. R Venkataramani had pointed out large-scale illegal occupations saying it was difficult for the state government to control unauthorised possession.
