Supreme Court issues notice to Assam, temporarily pauses bulldozer action
The top court issued a notice directing the Assam government to file a reply in 21 days to a contempt plea that was filed by 48 residents of the state, accusing the state government of violating the top court's order stopping the bulldozer action.
by Srishti Ojha, Sanjay Sharma · India TodayIn Short
- Top court directs Assam government to reply in 21 days in contempt plea
- No demolition without court approval, Supreme Court says
- Petitioners claim government violated the top court's order that stopped bulldozer action
The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to the Assam government seeking their reply to a contempt plea filed by 48 citizens, accusing the state government of violating the top court's order on demolition of structures.
The top court also instructed the state government officials to maintain the status quo until the next hearing.
A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan, issued a notice directing the Assam government to file a reply in 21 days.
The petitioner's advocate, Huzefa Ahmadi, termed the Assam government's actions as a "violation of the top court's order". However, the bench highlighted that there was no demolition carried out by the Assam government.
"... There’s no demolition yet... We’ll issue a notice," the court said in its directions, adding that no demolitions would be carried out without the court's approval.
As many as 48 petitioners moved the Supreme Court, stating that Assamese officials had ignored the court's ruling and marked their homes for demolition, saying that they had encroached on the government land.
The petitioners claim they have been residing on the property for decades based on the power of attorney agreements with the original landholders.
The petitioner also argued that the demolitions were carried out without giving the residents a fair hearing and depriving them of their homes and livelihoods, which is a violation of fundamental rights under Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Constitution.