Latest Court Verdicts
Supreme Court Upholds Due Process In Prayagraj Demolition Case
▪ The Supreme Court of India condemned the 2021 bulldozing of homes by the Prayagraj Development Authority as “inhumane and illegal,” ordering Rs 10 lakh compensation for each affected individual.
SC’s Judgment on Demolitions in Prayagraj
▪ Right to Shelter: The SC reiterated that the right to shelter is intrinsic to the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21.
▪ Arbitrary demolition without due process violates both procedural fairness and human dignity.
▪ Precedents and Legal Framework: The SC cited its 2024 ruling (In Re Directions In The Matter Of Demolition Of Structures), which laid down guidelines against “bulldozer justice,” mandating 15 days’ prior notice, clear mention of violations, and a fair chance for occupants to challenge demolition orders.
▪ Bulldozer justice refers to the practice of demolishing properties, often belonging to those accused of crimes, sometimes without following proper legal procedures.
