New Delhi,Oct, 24
The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain a petition seeking contempt of court action against Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan authorities for allegedly violating its order halting demolition of properties of those accused of crimes.
”We don’t want to open Pandora’s Box. Let the persons who are affected by demolition come to the court,” a Bench led by Justice BR Gavai said, refusing to entertain the plea filed by a person who was not directly or indirectly related to the alleged demolition.
The refusal came after Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, representing the State of Uttar Pradesh pointed out that the petitioner was a third party and not aware of facts as it was only a footpath encroachment that was removed by Kanpur authorities and that he moved court on the basis of media reports.
Amid bulldozer action against alleged illegal houses and shops of offenders in BJP-ruled states, the Bench had on September 17 ordered that no demolition of properties of persons accused of crimes can take place without its prior permission.
”Even if there’s one instance of illegal demolition, it’s against ethos of the Constitution,” the top court had said, invoking its special powers under Article 142 of the Constitution (which empowers it to pass any orders to do complete justice) to halt ‘bulldozer justice’.
