The Supreme Court of India recently made a big decision to protect people’s rights. It told the Prayagraj Development Authority in Uttar Pradesh to pay ₹10 lakh each to people whose houses were destroyed in 2021. The message is clear: no one, not even the government, is above the law!
Last November, the Supreme Court set strict rules for how buildings can be torn down. If local governments don’t follow these rules, they can face serious trouble, including punishment for breaking the law. Officers who ignore the rules might even have to pay for the damage themselves!
According to the rules, before demolishing a building, the government must:
- Give a proper notice to the owner.
- Allow two weeks for a response.
- Hold a personal hearing.
- Share all case details online, like notices and orders.
If the owner doesn’t fix the problem within 15 days or the court hasn’t stopped the demolition, then it can happen.
The problem is, some authorities aren’t following these rules. Sometimes, buildings are destroyed as a punishment even before a person is proven guilty of a crime—like for protesting, or even cheering for a rival cricket team! The Supreme Court wants to stop this unfair behavior. That’s why it made guidelines last year so government officials can’t act in a rude or biased way.
But the fight isn’t over. The Supreme Court’s order for compensation came four years after the houses were demolished. It’s a slow process, and many other cases are still waiting for justice. Some state governments are ignoring the rules, causing chaos. It’s important to settle these cases quickly and make sure everyone follows the Supreme Court’s orders. That way, bulldozers can’t be misused to punish people.
Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
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