'Bulldozer action is like bulldozing on law': Supreme Court says- Allegation of complicity in crime not ground for destruction of property

The Supreme Court on Thursday (September 12) said that the bulldozer action is like running a bulldozer on the law of the land. Allegation of one's involvement in crime cannot be a ground for demolishing one's property. A bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy, Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice SVN Bhati made the remarks while hearing a petition related to the demolition of a house. The court said, if a person has committed a crime, action cannot be taken against his whole family or his legally constituted household. This is the second time in September that the SC has expressed displeasure over bulldozer action. Earlier on September 2, the court had said that even if a person is guilty in a case, such action cannot be taken. Gujarat's Kheda municipality threatens bulldozer action In fact, a family in Gujarat was threatened with bulldozer action by the municipality. The petitioner is a co-owner of land at Kathlal in Kheda district of Gujarat. An FIR was registered against him in a case on September 1, 2024. According to the petitioner, after the FIR was registered, the Municipal Corporation officials threatened to bulldoze his house. He approached the Supreme Court. The petitioner's counsel said that three generations of the accused's family have been living in that house for nearly two decades. The Supreme Court said- Prove the crime through legal process in the court On the argument of the petitioner, the Supreme Court said that the crime against the accused should be proved in the court through legal process. In a country where law is supreme, courts cannot ignore such threats. The Supreme Court issued a notice to the municipal authorities and directed them to maintain status quo in the case. The court has sought a response from the state and the municipal corporation within four weeks. An offense must be proved by legal process in a court of law. The court cannot remain ignorant of such destructive threats. This is unimaginable in a country like India, where the law is supreme.- The Supreme Court Court said on September 2- If the son is an accused, it is not right to break the house of the father. The Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind alleged that Muslims were being targeted and bulldozed in BJP-ruled states. The court said that if a person is only an accused, how can the action of breaking the property take place? A bench of Justice Viswanathan and BR Gavai said that “even if one is guilty, such action cannot be taken.” The Supreme Court said – we are not talking about illegal encroachment here. Concerned parties should give suggestions in this regard. We can issue guidelines for the entire country. Someone's son can be accused, but on this basis, destroy the father's house! This is not the correct course of action. Read full news here… Three states where bulldozer action took place in last 3 months

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