The Supreme Court delivered a significant verdict on Tuesday, April 1st, concerning the 2021 bulldozer actions in Prayagraj. The court ordered the Prayagraj Development Authority to compensate five petitioners with ₹10 lakh each. The compensation must be disbursed within six weeks.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court ruled on April 1st regarding the 2021 bulldozer actions in Prayagraj. The court directed the Prayagraj Development Authority to pay ₹10 lakh each to five petitioners within six weeks. The court deemed the demolition of houses within 24 hours of notice as illegal and wrongful.
The court's order stated that this compensation is necessary to prevent future instances of the government demolishing homes without due process. The judges cited a recent video showing a child fleeing a collapsing hut with her books, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
Actions Without Due Process Deemed Illegal: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court declared the bulldozer actions illegal, stating that demolishing houses within 24 hours of notice constitutes a violation of legal procedure. The court clarified that such actions are unacceptable, as they infringe upon citizens' rights. A recently viral social media video showed a child in Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, fleeing a hut being demolished by a bulldozer, carrying her books. The court cited this video, emphasizing the need for compensation to deter future actions without due process.
Supreme Court Previously Expressed Displeasure
On March 7th, the Supreme Court had already reprimanded the Uttar Pradesh government over the bulldozer actions. The victims claimed the state government mistakenly identified their land as belonging to gangster Atiq Ahmad. This led to the demolition of the homes of a lawyer, a professor, and three others in Prayagraj. The Supreme Court previously mandated that the state government rebuild the wrongly demolished houses at its own expense.
The court warned the government to file an affidavit through the legal process if it wished to challenge the decision. This Supreme Court ruling sends a clear message that demolishing homes without due process is not only illegal but also a violation of human rights. This order serves as a b warning to future governments that upholding the law and citizens' rights is paramount.
