'Bulldozer remains parked in garage': Akhilesh Yadav and Asaduddin Owaisi welcome Supreme Court directives | Mint

Opposition leaders such as SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday welcomed the Supreme Court's order on bulldozing action. It laid down strict guidelines to curb “bulldozer justice” and stated that the executive cannot declare a person guilty nor become a judge and decide to demolish the property of an accused person.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav praised the Supreme Court verdict while speaking out against the Yogi Adityanath-led government in Uttar Pradesh. He said, “…The Supreme Court has commented against the bulldozer, which became the symbol of this (BJP) government.”

“I thank the Supreme Court for this decision against the government…What can you expect from those who know how to demolish houses? At least today their bulldozer will remain parked in the garage, now no one's house will be demolished. .,” Yadav said while addressing a public meeting in Sismau.

The SP leader added, “What can be a bigger statement against the government than this? We have full confidence in the court. One day our MLAs will be released and come among us and will work as they used to do. “

Meanwhile, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi called the Supreme Court's “bulldozer judgement” a “welcome relief”. He posted on

“We must remember that none other than @narendramodi celebrated the bulldozer raj, which SC today called “a lawless state of affairs,” Owaisi said.

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole also hit out at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, saying he should keep his politics only in UP. “The BJP government has started playing the politics of creating fear by misusing ED, CBI and bulldozers in some states. The SC has rejected them and we welcome that,” Patole said.

Following the Supreme Court's ruling on bulldozing action, Delhi Minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said that this country is governed by the Constitution and action should be taken against someone as per the law.

“This 'Dadagiri' taking place in the name of bulldozing actions is illegal. The government and the Supreme Court of the states, wherever these bulldozing actions are being taken, should have taken notice of it earlier…,” Bharadwaj said.

CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat wished the verdict on bulldozing actions would have come earlier. “I welcome the Supreme Court's ruling declaring bulldozing actions as illegal and rogue. I only wish the verdict had come earlier as it could have saved the bulldozing of many houses in BJP-ruled states,” Karat said in a statement.

BSP president Mayawati hoped that the bulldozer “terror” will now finally end, while Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai said the verdict will put an end to “jungle raj” in the state.

SC's 'bulldozer justice'

The Supreme Court has ruled on “bulldozing” actions by state governments to demolish properties of people accused of crimes.

A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan on Wednesday said that if the executive arbitrarily destroys the house of a citizen merely on the ground that he is accused of a crime, it is acting against the principles of governance of the state. law.

The court said: “If a citizen's house is demolished just because he is an accused or even a convict, that too without following due process as prescribed by law, in our considered opinion, will be totally unconstitutional for more than one reason.”

The court ruled that no demolition may be carried out without prior notice to the property owner 15 days later.

The court ruled that the notice must be served on the owner by certified mail and must also be posted on the outer portion of the structure. The notice must include the nature of the unauthorized construction, details of the specific violation and the grounds for demolition.

The demolition must be videotaped and any violation of these guidelines will result in contempt.

The Supreme Court also ruled that the state and its officials cannot take arbitrary and excessive measures, stating that the executive branch cannot find a person guilty or decide to demolish a suspect's property.

(With input from agencies)