The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday refused to issue a blanket ban on demolitions across states, arguing that such a move would curtail the rights of municipal authorities.
The observation by the top court came while hearing a petition filed by the Muslim organization Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, where it alleged that the demolition drive was being carried out by the Uttar Pradesh state government to target minority members and sought directions from the top court for the state authorities to stop further demolition of properties.
The apex court, meanwhile, has sought replies from the state governments of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, where recent demolitions have drawn criticism. Earlier, the court issued a notice to Uttar Pradesh in this regard.
Responding to the notice, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-governed state said that the demolition drives were carried out while following due course of the law, and that it was a routine exercise to remove encroachments.
Violence erupted in several parts of the state, including Kanpur and Prayagraj cities, on June 2 and June 10 over BJP politicians' controversial remarks about the Prophet Muhammad. Following the unrest, the Uttar Pradesh government razed the house of Javed Mohammed, the main accused in the violence in Prayagraj, claiming illegal construction.
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